Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
A rocking skimmer for collecting liquid from the surface of a body of water and comprising in combination: a. an open-topped rigid container means, having Walls extending upwardly from a closed horizontal bottom, for floating on said body of water and for collecting liquid from the surface thereof, said walls including end walls and side walls with one of said end walls being of less height than a second opposing end wall for the rapid submergence of said one end wall, and said side walls being constructed and arranged to provide said container means with greater width adjacent said end walls and a constriction therebetween for increasing the rate of flow of collected liquid through said constriction; b. first flotation means exteriorly secured to said container means for keeping it afloat when filled with collected liquid and rockable about an axis transverse said constriction and the side walls of said container means; c. second flotation means, having weight and buoyancy, interiorly secured in said container means adjacent said one end wall for said weight to rockably submerge said one end wall below the surface of said body of water and collect liquid therefrom over said one wall, and for said buoyancy responsive to said collected liquid, to rockably raise said submerged one end wall and flow said collected liquid oppositely therefrom to further raise said one end wall clear of the surface of said body of water; and d. suction pipe means, having an open inlet, pivotally mounted on said transverse axis and in said container means adjustably above said bottom whereby said increased rate of flow of collected liquid through said constriction keeps said open inlet free of solids and stoppage thereby, and for the controlled discharge of said collected liquid therefrom to vary buoyancy relative to said weight of said second flotation means and thereby resubmerge said one end wall and recommence collection of surface liquid, and so on to continuously and rockably skim the surface of said body of water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
A rocking skimmer for collecting liquid from the surface of a body of water and comprising in combination: a. an open-topped rigid container means, having Walls extending upwardly from a closed horizontal bottom, for floating on said body of water and for collecting liquid from the surface thereof, said walls including end walls and side walls with one of said end walls being of less height than a second opposing end wall for the rapid submergence of said one end wall, and said side walls being constructed and arranged to provide said container means with greater width adjacent said end walls and a constriction therebetween for increasing the rate of flow of collected liquid through said constriction; b. first flotation means exteriorly secured to said container means for keeping it afloat when filled with collected liquid and rockable about an axis transverse said constriction and the side walls of said container means; c. second flotation means, having weight and buoyancy, interiorly secured in said container means adjacent said one end wall for said weight to rockably submerge said one end wall below the surface of said body of water and collect liquid therefrom over said one wall, and for said buoyancy responsive to said collected liquid, to rockably raise said submerged one end wall and flow said collected liquid oppositely therefrom to further raise said one end wall clear of the surface of said body of water; and d. suction pipe means, having an open inlet, pivotally mounted on said transverse axis and in said container means adjustably above said bottom whereby said increased rate of flow of collected liquid through said constriction keeps said open inlet free of solids and stoppage thereby, and for the controlled discharge of said collected liquid therefrom to vary buoyancy relative to said weight of said second flotation means and thereby resubmerge said one end wall and recommence collection of surface liquid, and so on to continuously and rockably skim the surface of said body of water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A rocking skimmer as described in claim 1 wherein said first and second floatation means secured to and in said container means are adjustable in height relative to the bottom of said container means, said second flotation means being also adjustable in weight, and the discharge of said suction pipe means being adjustable in rate of flow whereby the frequency of rocking of said container means is a function of the coordination of said adjustments.