Apparatus for removing a substance floating as a layer on the surface of a body of liquid

Claim 2

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; fairing means having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said fairing means including a wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means and has a free upper edge which is maintained submerged below the suRface of the body of liquid, said free upper edge being bent towards said axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 3

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; fairing means having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said fairing means including a wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means and has a free lower edge; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 4

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; fairing means having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said fairing means including a wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means and has a free lower edge; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 5

An installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein said free lower edge is bent away from said axis.

Claim 6

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a bottom surface arranged below said whirling means; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 7

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a bottom surface arranged below said whirling means; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 8

An installation as claimed in claim 4, further comprising adjusting means for varying the distance between said bottom surface and said whirling means.

Claim 9

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; fairing means having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said fairing means including a wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means; a bottom surface arranged below said whirling means; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 10

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; fairing means having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said fairing means including a wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means; a bottom surface arranged below said whirling means; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 11

An installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bottom surface forms a bottom wall closing off the lower part of the fairing.

Claim 12

An installation as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fairing means is pierced, through the said bottom wall or in the vicinity thereof, by at least one orifice.

Claim 13

An installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wall which laterally surrounds said whirling means has a free lower edge, and said bottom surface is arranged below said free lower edge.

Claim 14

An installation as Claimed in claim 9, further comprising adjusting means for varying the distance between said bottom surface and said free lower edge.

Claim 15

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a convex deflecting wall submerged below the surface of the body of liquid and having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 16

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a convex deflecting wall submerged below the surface of the body of liquid and having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 17

An installation as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said convex deflecting wall forms part of a toroidal surface which surrounds said whirling means.

Claim 18

An installation as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a bottom surface arranged below said convex deflecting wall.

Claim 19

An installation as claimed in claim 13, further comprising adjusting means for varying the distance between said bottom surface and said convex deflecting wall.

Claim 20

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including a hollow manifold structure bounded by a wall having the shape of a surface of revolution the geometrical axis of which is identical with said vertical axis, said hollow manifold structure being immersed in said body of liquid; means for supplying said hollow manifold structure with pressurized impelling fluid; and at least one fluid-injecting nozzle carried by and fed from said hollow manifold structure, said fluid-injecting nozzle pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis whereby to discharge in said direction into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 21

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including a hollow manifold structure bounded by a wall having the shape of a surface of revolution the geometrical axis of which is identical with said vertical axis, said hollow manifold structure being immersed in said body of liquid; means for supplying said hollow manifold structure with pressurized impelling fluid; and at least one fluid-injecting nozzle carried by and fed from said hollow manifold structure, said fluid-injecting nozzle pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis whereby to discharge in said direction into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 22

An installation as claimed in claim 15, wherein the direction in which said fluid-injecting nozzle points has also a vertical downward component.

Claim 23

An installation as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for supplying said hollow manifold structure with pressurized impelling fluid comprise at least one pipe which opens into said hollow structure, said pipe pointing in direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis.

Claim 24

An installation as claimed in claim 17, wherein said direction has also a vertical downward component.

Claim 25

An installation as claimed in claim 15, comprising a plurality of fluid-injecting nozzles distributed over several coaxial circles of the said surface of revolution, with a degree of offset, passing from one circle to the next one,

Claim 26

An installation as claimed in claim 15, wherein said surface of revolution is a toroidal surface.

Claim 27

An installation as cLaimed in claim 15, wherein said surface of revolution is a cylinder.

Claim 28

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including, immersed in said body of liquid, at least one fluid-injecting nozzle adapted to discharge into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid, and a diffuser duct whereinto said fluid-injecting nozzle projects, said nozzle and said duct both pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 29

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including, immersed in said body of liquid, at least one fluid-injecting nozzle adapted to discharge into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid, and a diffuser duct whereinto said fluid-injecting nozzle projects, said nozzle and said duct both pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 30

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including, immersed in said body of liquid, at least one fluid-injecting nozzle pointing downwards and adapted to discharge into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid, and a diffuser duct whereinto said fluid-injecting nozzle projects, said diffuser duct having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said diffuser duct being fitted with at least one vane inclined in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 31

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including, immersed in said body of liquid, at least one fluid-injecting nozzle pointing downwards and adapted to discharge into said body of liquid a jet of impelling fluid, and a diffuser duct whereinto said fluid-injecting nozzle projects, said diffuser duct having a geometrical axis which is identical with said vertical axis, said diffuser duct being fitted with at least one vane inclined in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 32

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means comprising at least one nozzle dipped into the body of liquid and pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis, and suction means for sucking, through said nozzle, liquid from said body of liquid; and means distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 33

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means comprising at least one nozzle dipped into the body of liquid and pointing in a direction having a tangential component with respect to said vertical axis, and suction means for sucking, through said nozzle, liquid from said body of liquid; and means distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 34

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means For locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a suction pipe connected to a suction means for said immiscible substance, said suction pipe having an intake opening adapted to engage a region of said depression located above the bottom of said depression; and at least one separating wall means disposed between the bottom of said depression and said intake opening.

Claim 35

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means For locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a suction pipe connected to a suction means for said immiscible substance, said suction pipe having an intake opening adapted to engage a region of said depression located above the bottom of said depression; and at least one separating wall means disposed between the bottom of said depression and said intake opening.

Claim 36

An installation as claimed in claim 25, further comprising an auxiliary lateral wall which extends, in an upward direction, said separating wall, whereby to bound, in a portion of said depression, a settling chamber.

Claim 37

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including rotary impeller means dipped down into said body of liquid and having a rotation axis which is identical with said vertical axis; means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a suction pipe connected to a mechanically driven suction pump; and common motor means adapted to simultaneously drive said rotary impeller means and said suction pump.

Claim 38

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer, said whirling means including rotary impeller means dipped down into said body of liquid and having a rotation axis which is identical with said vertical axis; means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a suction pipe connected to a mechanically driven suction pump; and common motor means adapted to simultaneously drive said rotary impeller means and said suction pump.

Claim 39

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a filtering unit dipped down into said depression, and means for lifting up said filtering unit above said depression.

Claim 40

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a filtering unit dipped down into said depression, and means for lifting up said filtering unit above said depression.

Claim 41

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicintiy of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whrilpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means, said support floating on the body of liquid and comprising a boat of the catamaran type including two hulls arranged at a distance from one another and means interconnecting said two hulls whereby to bound together with said hulls a limited area at the surface of the body of liquid, said whirling means being immersed into said body of liquid within said limited area; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 42

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicintiy of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whrilpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means, said support floating on the body of liquid and comprising a boat of the catamaran type including two hulls arranged at a distance from one another and means interconnecting said two hulls whereby to bound together with said hulls a limited area at the surface of the body of liquid, said whirling means being immersed into said body of liquid within said limited area; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 43

An installation as claimed in claim 29, wherein said interconnecting means comprise a paddle-wheel mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and engaging the layer of overfloating immiscible substance, whereby to allow, as the boat proceeds, said overfloating substance to penetrate into said limited area.

Claim 44

An installation for removing, and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means; float means for maintaining said support above the surface of the body of liquid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 45

An installation for removing, and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means; float means for maintaining said support above the surface of the body of liquid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 46

Installation as claimed in claim 31, wherein said float means comprise a plurality of floats each of which is positioned substantially according to a portion of a spiral about said vertical axis.

Claim 47

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means; anchoring means for keeping said support immersed in the body of liquid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 48

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; a support for carrying said whirling means; anchoring means for keeping said support immersed in the body of liquid; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 49

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation including at least two units each of which comprises in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 50

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation including at least two units each of which comprises in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscible substance accumulated therein.

Claim 51

An installation as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a common support for carrying sAid units.

Claim 52

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscbile substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a portion adapted to engage a region of said depression located above the bottom of said depression.

Claim 53

An installation for removing and recovering from the surface of a body of liquid, an immiscible substance overfloating the same and spread thereover as a layer, said body of liquid and said layer of substance forming distinct horizontal strata, said installation comprising, in combination: means for locally whirling said liquid in the vicinity of said surface about a substantially vertical axis to generate a whirlpool producing in said surface a depression of downwardly tapering closed-bottom cup-shaped outline into which said immiscible overfloating substance is centripetally drawn from the environment of said depression and accumulates in extra thickness compared with said layer; and means, distinct from said whirling means, for discriminatingly extracting from said depression the immiscbile substance accumulated therein, said extracting means including a portion adapted to engage a region of said depression located above the bottom of said depression.