US3789988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removing surface pollutants from water and other liquids
Assignee: GRENOBLOISE D ETUDES D APPLIC
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Filing: 1973-03-14
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1993-03-14
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus disclosed herein for removing layers of pollutants, such as oil, floating on a heavier liquid, especially water, depends for its operableness on the effect of the relative displacement speed of the heavier liquid and the overlying pollutant. Such relative speed is used to direct the removed layer of heavier liquid and pollutant, by tangential introduction, into at least one cyclone chamber wherein the induced rotation of the removed materials is caused as to create a whirlpool area in which the pollutant is concentrated. In the central portion of such concentration, the pollutant is extracted through a pipe fitting in the axis of and crossing the ceiling of the cyclone. The centrifuged water, free of pollutant, is discharged at the end of the cyclone.
Inventors
- 👤 B Valibouse
- 👤 J Pichon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:30
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
Apparatus for the removal of a pollutant floating on a body of water, comprising a cyclone device adapted to be supported in relative movement with the body of water to receive the pollutant and water and when so supported in the body of water with a sufficient displacement speed therebetween being capable of receiving a water-pollutant mixture directly therein and of causing the rotation of such mixture therein to a degree sufficient to create a separation of the pollutant from the water, said cyclone device comprising a casing defining a cyclone chamber free of internal rotatable vanes and having an enlarged end and a reduced end, a side of the enlarged end of said chamber being exposed to entry of the relatively moving body of water through a large entry opening located under the free surface of the body of water for receiving directly into said chamber a water-pollutant mixture from such body of water, said casing including a solitary wall located externally of said enlarged end and associated with one side of said entry opening and provided with a mixture directing surface disposed in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said chamber, said solitary wall projecting outwardly from said enlarged end in opposed relation to the direction of entry of the water-pollutant mixture and said directing surface of said wall being generally inclined outwardly away from the other side of said opening so as to direct the water-pollutant mixture into said eNlarged end to one side of said longitudinal axis and to coact with the interior surface of said casing defining said enlarged end to create within said chamber using solely the effect of such displacement speed on the entering mixture, a whirlpool condition capable of concentrating the pollutant in the central area of the enlarged end of said chamber, means for extracting the pollutant from such central area and through the enlarged end of the cyclone chamber along the longitudinal axis of such chamber, means for collecting the extracted pollutant, and means for returning the pollutant free liquid from the reduced end of said chamber to said body of liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
Apparatus for the removal of a pollutant floating on a body of water, comprising a cyclone device adapted to be supported in relative movement with the body of water to receive the pollutant and water and when so supported in the body of water with a sufficient displacement speed therebetween being capable of receiving a water-pollutant mixture directly therein and of causing the rotation of such mixture therein to a degree sufficient to create a separation of the pollutant from the water, said cyclone device comprising a casing defining a cyclone chamber free of internal rotatable vanes and having an enlarged end and a reduced end, a side of the enlarged end of said chamber being exposed to entry of the relatively moving body of water through a large entry opening located under the free surface of the body of water for receiving directly into said chamber a water-pollutant mixture from such body of water, said casing including a solitary wall located externally of said enlarged end and associated with one side of said entry opening and provided with a mixture directing surface disposed in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said chamber, said solitary wall projecting outwardly from said enlarged end in opposed relation to the direction of entry of the water-pollutant mixture and said directing surface of said wall being generally inclined outwardly away from the other side of said opening so as to direct the water-pollutant mixture into said eNlarged end to one side of said longitudinal axis and to coact with the interior surface of said casing defining said enlarged end to create within said chamber using solely the effect of such displacement speed on the entering mixture, a whirlpool condition capable of concentrating the pollutant in the central area of the enlarged end of said chamber, means for extracting the pollutant from such central area and through the enlarged end of the cyclone chamber along the longitudinal axis of such chamber, means for collecting the extracted pollutant, and means for returning the pollutant free liquid from the reduced end of said chamber to said body of liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said directing surface of said solitary wall is concavely-shaped outwardly from said one side of said entry opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which casing includes a wall in the enlarged end of said chamber having a mixture directing surface concavely curved around the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and a plane mixture directing surface extending outwardly from the entry end of said curved surface and disposed so that the surface of said solitary wall diverges outwardly therefrom in spaced relation and against which the latter directs the water-pollutant mixture to be directed by said plane surface onto said concavely curved surface and around said longitudinal axis of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a second solitary wall located externally of said enlarged end and associated with the other side of said entry opening, said second solitary wall having a mixture directing surface disposed in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said chamber and together with the mixture directing surface of said first mentioned solitary wall forming a converging passage for the water-pollutant mixture directed thereby to said entry opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which the mixture directing surface of said second solitary wall is substantially tangential to the casing wall of said cyclone at said other side of said entry opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which said sides of said entry opening have a length substantially less than the transverse dimensions of said solitary walls and in which said entry opening is spaced from said extracting means and from those longitudinal edges of said solitary walls that are adjacent to said extracting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which that end edge of said entry opening spaced furthest from said extracting means is adjacent to one longitudinal edge of each of said solitary walls, and including deflecting means mounted on said one longitudinal edges of said solitary walls and coacting with the latter to direct the water-pollutant mixture to said entry opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said deflecting means comprises flanged walls projecting in opposed relation from said one longitudinal edge of said solitary walls and having mixture directing surfaces perpendicular to the mixture directing surfaces of said solitary walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
278 words
A unit mountable on a hull for the removal of pollutant floating on a body of water, comprising a cyclone device having a casing defining a cyclone chamber free of internal rotatable vanes and including an enlarged end and a reduced end, a side of the enlarged end of said chamber having an opening for entry of a water-pollutant mixture from the body of water directly into said chamber, a pair of solitary walls located externally of said cyclone device and connected at one end thereof to said cyclone casing at the sides of said entry opening, said solitary walls projecting outwardly from said entry opening in spaced relation and having opposed mixture directing surfaces disposed in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said chamber and inclined relative to each other to provide a converging passageway to said entry opening, said solitary walls coacting with the interior suRface of said casing, when said unit is mounted on a hull with said solitary walls projecting from said cyclone casing in opposed relation to the direction of entry of the water-pollutant mixture and with said entry opening submerged below the free surface of the body of water, to create within said chamber using solely the displacement speed of the entering mixture relative to said cyclone device, a whirlpool condition capable of concentrating the pollutant in the central area of the enlarged end of said chamber, outlet means at the enlarged end of the cyclone chamber for removing the pollutant from such central area thereof along the longitudinal axis of such chamber, and an outlet in the reduced end of said chamber for the discharge of the pollutant free liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
278 words
A unit mountable on a hull for the removal of pollutant floating on a body of water, comprising a cyclone device having a casing defining a cyclone chamber free of internal rotatable vanes and including an enlarged end and a reduced end, a side of the enlarged end of said chamber having an opening for entry of a water-pollutant mixture from the body of water directly into said chamber, a pair of solitary walls located externally of said cyclone device and connected at one end thereof to said cyclone casing at the sides of said entry opening, said solitary walls projecting outwardly from said entry opening in spaced relation and having opposed mixture directing surfaces disposed in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said chamber and inclined relative to each other to provide a converging passageway to said entry opening, said solitary walls coacting with the interior suRface of said casing, when said unit is mounted on a hull with said solitary walls projecting from said cyclone casing in opposed relation to the direction of entry of the water-pollutant mixture and with said entry opening submerged below the free surface of the body of water, to create within said chamber using solely the displacement speed of the entering mixture relative to said cyclone device, a whirlpool condition capable of concentrating the pollutant in the central area of the enlarged end of said chamber, outlet means at the enlarged end of the cyclone chamber for removing the pollutant from such central area thereof along the longitudinal axis of such chamber, and an outlet in the reduced end of said chamber for the discharge of the pollutant free liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A unit as defined in claim 9, in which the directing surface of one of said solitary walls is tangential to the casing wall at a side edge of said entry opening and disposed as a whole at right angles to a radial plane containing the longitudinal axis of said chamber and said opening side edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A unit as defined in claim 10, in which the directing surface of the other of said solitary walls is concavely shaped outwardly from the other side of edge of said entry opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A unit as defined in claim 9, including deflector walls projecting in opposed relation from the longitudinal edges of said solitary walls spaced furthest from said outlet means, said deflector walls having mixture directing surfaces perpendicular to the mixture directing surfaces of said solitary walls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |