Abstract A container is floatably supported on a liquid surface between exterior floats fixed intermediate the container''s oppositely disposed ends. The container has a closed bottom and the oppositely disposed ends are respectively an open shallow end and a deep end. An interior float is adjustably fixed in the open shallow end. A suction pipe line is fixed in the container approximately equidistant from the oppositely disposed ends, and with a suction end spaced vertically above the bottom of the container for continuously discharging liquid contents of the container above said suction end. The interior float is weighted to submerge the open shallow end of the container and raise the deep end when the liquid contents has been reduced by discharge from the suction pipe line to approaching the suction end thereof. The interior float is adjustably buoyant to raise the submerged open shallow end and lower the deep end of the container when its contents are increased and raised by the submergence to approach overflowing the container. The raising and lowering of the container''s oppositely disposed ends is automatic and causes a back and forth flow of its contents to dissolve soluble solids and carry insoluble solids past said suction end of the suction pipe line and thereby prevent their entry into or collection around the suction end to stop or slow the continuous discharge of liquid contents from the container. The frequency of the rocking motion of the container is selfregulating and is a function of the weight and adjustable buoyancy of the interior float, and the rate of continuous discharge from the container.
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.