US3884807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for skimming in multi-phase fluid media
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-18
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1991-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A skimmer vessel is disclosed for collecting, automatically concentrating, and storing an upper phase of a two-phase liquid system such as oil floating upon water. A mechanically positioned entrance lip brings in a mixture of the two phases to a settling and collection zone. Within one or more settling zones connected in series electrical phase detection systems are used to facilitate optimum concentration of phases. The electrical systems automatically position weir gates and engage pumps for control of the phase separation. It is possible to operate the vessel under varying conditions, for example at low inlet rate provided by wave action, also at higher flow rates provided by mechanical pumping means or higher vessel surface velocities.
Inventors
- 👤 Merlyn W Heddon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/048; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
379 words
A SYSTEM FOR SEPARATION OF THE UPPER PHASE FROM THE LOWER PHASE OF A TWO-PHASE FLUID MEDIUM, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A TOWABLE SKIMMING VESSEL HAVING AN INLET LIP, A COLLECTION CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID LIP, A SETTLING CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER, AND A SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID SETTLING CHAMBER, SAID LIP BEING ADJUSTABLE TO BE POSITIONED IN THE TWO PHASE FLUID MEDIUM SO AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE THE UPPER PHASE FROM THE LOWER PHASE THEREOF AND TO DIRECT SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID INTO SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER; A PADDLE MEANS AND A BAFFLE MEANS DISPOSED AT THE END OF SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER, ADJOINING SAID LIP, AND POSITIONED SO AS TO FURTHER SEPARATE SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID FROM SAID LOWER PHASE FLUID AND TO FURTHER URGE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID OVER SAID BAFFLE MEANS INTO SAID SETTLING CHAMBER; AN ADJUSTABLE WEIR POSITIONED IN SAID VESSEL SO AS TO FORM A COMMON BARRIER BETWEEN SAID SETTLING CHAMBER AND SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER; AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY DISPOSED ON SAID WEIR FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID WEIR TO PERMIT OPTIMUM FLOW OF SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID FROM SAID SETTLING CHAMBER INTO SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER, SAID AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING: A MOTOR FOR MOVING THE WEIR A SOURCE OF POWER; FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELECTRODES POSITIONED ON SAID WEIR, ONE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER, AND ARRANGED TO CONNECT WAID MOTOR TO SAID SOURCE OF POWER WHEN SAID FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS IS POSITIONED ABOVE OR BELOW THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER PHASE OF SAID FLUID MEDIUM IN SAID SETTLING CHAMBER TO LOWER OR RAISE SAID WEIR, AND ARRANGED TO DISCONNECT SAID MOTOR FROM SAID SOURCE OF POWER WHEN ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES IN SAID ELECTRODE PAIR IS ABOVE AND THE OTHER ELECTRODE OF SAID ELECTRODE PAIR IS BELOW SAID INTERFACE; A PUMP HAVING AN OUTLET, SAID PUMP BEING POSITIONED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER, AND A MOTOR FOR EXCITING SAID PUMP; AND A SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER POSITIONED TO OPERATE SAID PUMP MOTOR SO LONG AS SAID SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS IS IN THE LOWER PHASE OF SAID FLUID MEDIUM IN SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
379 words
A SYSTEM FOR SEPARATION OF THE UPPER PHASE FROM THE LOWER PHASE OF A TWO-PHASE FLUID MEDIUM, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A TOWABLE SKIMMING VESSEL HAVING AN INLET LIP, A COLLECTION CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID LIP, A SETTLING CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER, AND A SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER ADJOINING SAID SETTLING CHAMBER, SAID LIP BEING ADJUSTABLE TO BE POSITIONED IN THE TWO PHASE FLUID MEDIUM SO AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE THE UPPER PHASE FROM THE LOWER PHASE THEREOF AND TO DIRECT SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID INTO SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER; A PADDLE MEANS AND A BAFFLE MEANS DISPOSED AT THE END OF SAID COLLECTION CHAMBER, ADJOINING SAID LIP, AND POSITIONED SO AS TO FURTHER SEPARATE SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID FROM SAID LOWER PHASE FLUID AND TO FURTHER URGE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID OVER SAID BAFFLE MEANS INTO SAID SETTLING CHAMBER; AN ADJUSTABLE WEIR POSITIONED IN SAID VESSEL SO AS TO FORM A COMMON BARRIER BETWEEN SAID SETTLING CHAMBER AND SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER; AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY DISPOSED ON SAID WEIR FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID WEIR TO PERMIT OPTIMUM FLOW OF SAID UPPER PHASE FLUID FROM SAID SETTLING CHAMBER INTO SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER, SAID AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING: A MOTOR FOR MOVING THE WEIR A SOURCE OF POWER; FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELECTRODES POSITIONED ON SAID WEIR, ONE HIGHER THAN THE OTHER, AND ARRANGED TO CONNECT WAID MOTOR TO SAID SOURCE OF POWER WHEN SAID FIRST ELECTRODE MEANS IS POSITIONED ABOVE OR BELOW THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER PHASE OF SAID FLUID MEDIUM IN SAID SETTLING CHAMBER TO LOWER OR RAISE SAID WEIR, AND ARRANGED TO DISCONNECT SAID MOTOR FROM SAID SOURCE OF POWER WHEN ONE OF SAID ELECTRODES IN SAID ELECTRODE PAIR IS ABOVE AND THE OTHER ELECTRODE OF SAID ELECTRODE PAIR IS BELOW SAID INTERFACE; A PUMP HAVING AN OUTLET, SAID PUMP BEING POSITIONED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER, AND A MOTOR FOR EXCITING SAID PUMP; AND A SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER POSITIONED TO OPERATE SAID PUMP MOTOR SO LONG AS SAID SECOND ELECTRODE MEANS IS IN THE LOWER PHASE OF SAID FLUID MEDIUM IN SAID SEPARATION AND STORAGE CHAMBER.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |