Liquid-purifying process and apparatus

Claim 2

A PROCESS OF PURIFYING A POLLUTED LIQUID WHICH CONTAINS A LIQUID IMPURITY HAVING A LOWER SPECIFIC GRAVITY THAN THE POLLUTED LIQUID, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES INTERMITTENTLY SUCKING SAID POLLUTED LIQUID FROM AN ANTECHAMBER INTO A FILTER THROUGH A SEPARATING CHAMBER, INTERMITTENTLY SUCKING FILTERED LIQUID FROM SAID FILTER AND DISCHARGING SAID FILTERED LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE THROUGH AN EQUALIZING CHAMBER, CONTROLLING THE INTERMITTENT SUCKING AND DISCHARGE OF SAID LIQUID IN DEPENDENCE ON THE LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID ANTECHAMBER; AND SUBJECTING SAID LIQUID IN SAID SEPARATING CHAMBER TO A PRESEPARATION TO REMOVE A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID LIQUID IMPURITY.

Claim 3

A process as set forth in claim 1, which is used to purify oil-polluted water.

Claim 4

A process as set forth in claim 1, in which said preseparation results in the formation of a layer of said liquid impurity in said separating chamber and the flow of liquid from said separating chamber to said filter is interrupted when said layer has reached a predetermined thickness.

Claim 5

A process as set forth in claim 3, in which the sucking of polluted liquid from said antechamber is interrupted when the flow of liquid from said separating chamber is interrupted.

Claim 6

In a separating apparatus for separating two liquids of different specific gravity of a liquid mixture and comprising housing means defining an antechamber and a filter chamber downstream of the antechamber, and float means for controlling the transfer of liquid from the antechamber to the filter chamber and the intake of the liquid mixture to be separated, the improvement wherein the antechamber is provided with a magnetic float switch and an equalizing chamber is provided downstream of the filter chamber, conduit means is provided to interconnect the filter chamber and the equalizing chamber and includes a pump controlled by said switch and having a suction side connected to said filter chamber and a discharge side opening into said equalizing chamber, at least two of said chambers being provided in vertically superimposed relation in said housing means.

Claim 7

In a separating apparatus for separating two liquids of different specific gravity of a liquid mixture and comprising housing means defining an antechamber and a filter chamber downstream of the antechamber, and float means for controlling the transfer of liquid from the antechamber to the filter chamber and the intake of the liquid mixture to be separated, the improvement wherein the antechamber is provided with a magnetic float switch and an equalizing chamber is provided downstream of the filter chamber, conduit means is provided to interconnect the filter chamber and the equalizing chamber and includes a pump controlled by said switch and having a suction side connected to said filter chamber and a discharge side opening into said equalizing chamber, at least two of said chambers being provided in vertically superimposed relation in said housing means.

Claim 8

The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein a separating chamber is interposed between said antechamber and said filter chamber and is connected therewith through a flow valve with a densimetric float lying beneath the boundary between said liquids and said separating chamber.

Claim 9

The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said housing means has a cover disposed above said antechamber for forming said equalizing chamber.

Claim 10

The improvement defined in claim 5 wherein said conduit means and said pump are disposed within said housing means and are carried by a cover thereof, said magnetic switch being likewise carried by said cover.

Claim 11

The improvement defined in claim 5 further comprising means for automatically venting said antechamber upon standstill of the apparatus.

Claim 12

Apparatus for purifying a polluted liquid which contains a liquid impurity having a lower specific gravity than said polluted liquid, which apparatus comprises antechamber means defining an antechamber adapted to hold said polluted liquid, a filter connected to said antechamber, an equalizing chamber, liquid-handling means connected between said filter and said equalizing chamber and intermittently operable in a forward direction to suck polluted liquid from said antechamber into said filter, to suck filtered liquid from said filter and to discharge said filtered liquid under pressure through said equalizing chamber, and control means for controlling the operation of said liquid-handling means in dependence on the liquid level in said antechamber, said liquid-handling means comprising a pump having a suction side connected to said filter and a discharge side connected to said filter and a discharge side connected to said equalizing chamber, and said control means comprising a switch which is disposed in said antechamber and arranged to control said pump in dependence on the liquid level in said antechamber, said filter being preceded by a separating chamber and being arranged to be flown through by the liquid from the separating chamber from top to bottom, said antechamber means being formed in a housing which also contains said filter, said equalizing chamber being disposed above said separating chamber.

Claim 13

Apparatus for purifying a polluted liquid which contains a liquid impurity having a lower specific gravity than said polluted liquid, which apparatus comprises antechamber means defining an antechamber adapted to hold said polluted liquid, a filter connected to said antechamber, an equalizing chamber, liquid-handling means connected between said filter and said equalizing chamber and intermittently operable in a forward direction to suck polluted liquid from said antechamber into said filter, to suck filtered liquid from said filter and to discharge said filtered liquid under pressure through said equalizing chamber, and control means for controlling the operation of said liquid-handling means in dependence on the liquid level in said antechamber, said liquid-handling means comprising a pump having a suction side connected to said filter and a discharge side connected to said filter and a discharge side connected to said equalizing chamber, and said control means comprising a switch which is disposed in said antechamber and arranged to control said pump in dependence on the liquid level in said antechamber, said filter being preceded by a separating chamber and being arranged to be flown through by the liquid from the separating chamber from top to bottom, said antechamber means being formed in a housing which also contains said filter, said equalizing chamber being disposed above said separating chamber.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said switch is a float-controlled magnetic switch arranged to deenergize said pump when the liquid in said antechamber subsides below a predetermined level.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said housing has a cover which contains said equalizing chamber.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which the volume of said equalizing chamber is at least as large as the volume of said antechamber.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, which comprises an intake conduit having an inlet end adapted to be disposed in a body of polluted liquid outside said antechamber and having an outlet end disposed in said antechamber, a check valve incorporated in said intake conduit, and a float-controlled shut-off valve adapted to close said inlet end.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, in which said pump is accommodated in said housing, and said housing has a cover which carries said switch, said pump, and a conduit from said Pump to said equalizing chamber whereas said filter is carried independently of said cover.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which said cover carries also an intake conduit for supplying polluted liquid to said antechamber.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which said control means comprise electric leads carried by said cover.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, which comprises a first unit comprising said antechamber means, a second unit comprising said filter and said separating chamber, and a third unit comprising said pump and said equalizing chamber.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said second unit is detachably connected to and carried by said third unit.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which connecting conduits are provided which connect said first unit to said second unit and said second unit to said third unit, said connecting conduits are provided with quick couplings, and means are provided which define an air-collecting chamber which is connected between said filter and said pump and serves to collect air contained in said connecting conduits.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, which comprises an air supply conduit which is connected to said antechamber and valve means for closing said air supply conduit when said liquid-handling means are in operation and for opening said air supply conduit when said liquid-handling means are inoperative.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, in which said valve means comprise a solenoid valve.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 21, in which said valve means are adapted to be closed in response to a vacuum between said filter and said pump.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said antechamber means comprise means defining the top of said antechamber, a supply chamber having a bottom and adapted to hold polluted liquid is associated with said antechamber, and an intake conduit for supplying polluted liquid to said antechamber has an inlet disposed outside said antechamber in said supply chamber near said bottom and an outlet disposed in said antechamber near said top.

Claim 28

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said switch is a float-controlled magnetic switch arranged to energize said pump when the liquid in said antechamber rises above a predetermined level.

Claim 29

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, which comprises a connecting conduit connecting said antechamber and said separating chamber and a check valve incorporated in said connecting conduit.

Claim 30

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said equalizing chamber has a liquid discharge opening provided with a vapor lock.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 27, in which said vapor lock comprises means defining a chamber, which is connected to said equalizing chamber by a first check valve opening in the direction in which liquid is discharged and a second check valve opening opposite to the direction in which liquid is discharged, and a liquid discharge conduit is connected to said chamber.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said equalizing chamber means consist of an expansible hollow body having a liquid discharge opening and a check valve opening in the direction in which liquid is discharged from said opening is adapted to close the latter.

Claim 33

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said filter is retained between spaced apart upper and lower, perforated plates and said upper perforated plate is formed with perforations which decrease in size toward the center of said plate.

Claim 34

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said filter is retained between spaced apart upper and lower perforated plates and said upper perforated plate is formed with perforations which increase in pitch toward the center of said plate.

Claim 35

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said filter is contained in a container having a bottOm and a connecting conduit connects said filter container and said pump and has an opening approximately at the center of said bottom.

Claim 36

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, in which said separating chamber is adapted to separate said polluted liquid into a liquid impurity layer and a prepurified polluted liquid layer, said separating chamber is provided with a liquid impurity drain adapted to withdraw liquid impurity from said liquid impurity layer, drain valve means are provided which are operable to open and close said drain, said liquid-handling means are operable in a reverse direction to force liquid from said equalizing chamber through said filter into said separating chamber, said separating chamber contains a float-controlled magnetic switch adapted to assume a first position when said liquid impurity layer has a predetermined, relatively large thickness and a second position when said liquid impurity layer has a predetermined smaller thickness, and said magnetic switch is arranged in said first position to open said drain valve means and to initiate the operation of said liquid-handling means in said reverse direction until said magnetic switch has reached said second position, and in said second position to close said drain valve means and to initiate the intermittent operation of said liquid-handling means in said forward direction.

Claim 37

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which said separating chamber has an upper portion containing two vertically spaced apart, perforated plates, and a layer of coarse-pored foamed material for reducing turbulence is disposed between and carried by said perforated plates.