Patent US3901712A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3864257A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for surface skimming
Assignee: Smith and Loveless Inc
•
Filing: 1973-09-17
•
Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A surface skimming method and apparatus for circular clarifiers which collects and removes floating matter from the surface of the clarifier. The surface skimmer includes a rotating arm, a fixed anti-rotation arm, and means for removal of collected floating matter. The rotating arm projects above the surface of the clarifier for rotation thereabout pushing the floating matter ahead of it. As the rotating arm approaches the anti-rotation arm, a ''''wedge'''' is formed therebetween which traps the floating matter. As the rotating arm continues to rotate, the ''''wedge'''' is made smaller and moves outward, forcing the floating matter towards the means for removal of the collected floating matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Shaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:14
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/10; B01D21/12; B01D21/14; B01D21/24; B01D21/2427; B01D21/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
IN COMBINATION WITH A CIRCULAR TANK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE LIQUID, MEANS FOR REMOVING FLOATING MATTER FROM THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A. A SURFACE SKIMMING ARM POSITIONED WITHIN SAID TANK FOR ROTATION ABOUT A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL AXIS SO AS TO PUSH THE FLOATING MATTER AHEAD OF IT; AND B. AN ANTI-ROTATION ARM RADIALLY AFFIXED WITHIN SAID TANK, SAID SKIMMING ARM AND SAID ANTI-ROTATION ARM FORMING A WEDGE THEREBETWEEN WHICH BECOMES SMALLER AND MOVES OUTWARD AS SAID SKIMMING ARM APPROACHES SAID ANTI-ROTATION ARM SO AS TO DIRECT SAID FLOATING MATTER TRAPPED THEREIN OUTWARD TOWARDS THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TANK.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
IN COMBINATION WITH A CIRCULAR TANK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE LIQUID, MEANS FOR REMOVING FLOATING MATTER FROM THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A. A SURFACE SKIMMING ARM POSITIONED WITHIN SAID TANK FOR ROTATION ABOUT A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL AXIS SO AS TO PUSH THE FLOATING MATTER AHEAD OF IT; AND B. AN ANTI-ROTATION ARM RADIALLY AFFIXED WITHIN SAID TANK, SAID SKIMMING ARM AND SAID ANTI-ROTATION ARM FORMING A WEDGE THEREBETWEEN WHICH BECOMES SMALLER AND MOVES OUTWARD AS SAID SKIMMING ARM APPROACHES SAID ANTI-ROTATION ARM SO AS TO DIRECT SAID FLOATING MATTER TRAPPED THEREIN OUTWARD TOWARDS THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TANK.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 further including scum removal means associated with the outer periphery of the tank for receiving the outward moving floating matter collected in said wedge for removal thereof from the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said scum removal means is an airlift pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the bottom portion of said anti-rotation arm deflects to permit said skimming arm to pass thereunder.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for removing floating matter from the surface of a liquid within a circular tank, comprising the steps of: rotating a skimming arm along the surface of the liquid about a centrally disposed substantially verticle axis to push the floating matter ahead of it; and directing the floating matter outward towards the periphery of the tank by positioning a fixed anti-rotation arm along the surface of the liquid to form a wedge between it and the skimming arm which traps the floating matter therein and and becomes smaller and moves outward as the skimming arm approaches the anti-rotation arm.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for removing floating matter from the surface of a liquid within a circular tank, comprising the steps of: rotating a skimming arm along the surface of the liquid about a centrally disposed substantially verticle axis to push the floating matter ahead of it; and directing the floating matter outward towards the periphery of the tank by positioning a fixed anti-rotation arm along the surface of the liquid to form a wedge between it and the skimming arm which traps the floating matter therein and and becomes smaller and moves outward as the skimming arm approaches the anti-rotation arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 5 including the step of directing the floating matter to scum removal means for removal froM the tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 6 wherein said scum removal means is an airlift pump.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 6 wherein the bottom portion of the anti-rotation arm deflects to permit the skimming arm to pass under it.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2149313A
Cited
US2780361A
Cited
US2681151A
Cited
US2854146A
Cited
US3437212A
Cited
US3741399A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |