US3876540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Skimming device
Assignee: Societe Nationale des Petroles dAquitaine SA
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Filing: 1973-05-18
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-05-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns the separation and extraction of the upper layer of liquids stored in tanks or pools. The device consists of a shallow funnel, submerged in the liquid and equipped with means with draining off the extracted liquid, and characterized by the fact that the level of submersion, governing the amount of liquid drawn off, is regulated by a set of floats, which are either ballasted or adjusted in height, possibly by remote control. The main applications of this appliance are in the treatment of open-air brine ponds and tanks for residual water in oil fields, refineries, paper mills and other chemical industries.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri Falxa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:24
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/12; E04H4/1209; E04H4/1263; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
In a device to skim a body of still liquid which comprises a container which is open at its top and has an aperture in its bottom connected to a pump, a set of floats, and means connecting said floats to said container to hold the upper edge of said container in a horizontal plane which is, under normal working conditions, beneath the surface of the liquid, the improvement according to which said connecting means comprises a plurality of arms, each mounted to swing in a vertical direction about a point intermediate its ends, one end of each arm being connected to one of said floats, and the other ends of said arms being connected to a nut vertically adjustable on a central threaded member carried by said container, so that vertical adjustment of said nut swings said arms in a vertical direction to alter the height of the container relative to said floats and consequently relative to said liquid, means for detecting changes in a physical characteristic of the body of liquid being skimmed, and means controlled by said detecting means for automatically adjusting said adjustable connecting means in response to those changes in physical characteristics which are detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a device to skim a body of still liquid which comprises a container which is open at its top and has an aperture in its bottom connected to a pump, a set of floats, and means connecting said floats to said container to hold the upper edge of said container in a horizontal plane which is, under normal working conditions, beneath the surface of the liquid, the improvement according to which said connecting means comprises a plurality of arms, each mounted to swing in a vertical direction about a point intermediate its ends, one end of each arm being connected to one of said floats, and the other ends of said arms being connected to a nut vertically adjustable on a central threaded member carried by said container, so that vertical adjustment of said nut swings said arms in a vertical direction to alter the height of the container relative to said floats and consequently relative to said liquid, means for detecting changes in a physical characteristic of the body of liquid being skimmed, and means controlled by said detecting means for automatically adjusting said adjustable connecting means in response to those changes in physical characteristics which are detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for detecting changes in a physical characteristic is responsive to changes in the depth of the body of liquid being skimmed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for detecting changes in a physical characteristic is responsive to changes in the density of the surface layer of liquid in the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a level detector connected to control said pump and controlled by a float responsive to the level of the body of liquid being skimmed, the vertical movement of which float is limited by two levels, an upper level above the upper edge of the container, at which level the pump starts up, and a lower level, between the plane of the upper edge of the container and the plane of a horizontal plate above the aperture, at which level the pump stops.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |