US3919090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface skimming system
Assignee: Smith and Loveless Inc
•
Filing: 1974-09-11
•
Granted: 1975-11-11
•
Expires: 1994-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A surface skimming system for collecting and removing floating matter from the surface of a circular clarifier. The system includes a rotating skimmer arm, a scum blade and pocket assembly, and a scum baffle. The scum blade and pocket assembly are secured to the outer end of the skimming arm for receiving and directing the outwardly moving floating matter into the scum baffle. The scum baffle is located adjacent the outer periphery of the clarifier tank and includes a scum beach and trough assembly to receive the floating matter collected in the scum pocket. A pair of scum blades are positioned adjacent one another in an overlapping relationship and are independently biased against the side walls of the scum baffle by flexible support members. The flexible support members are in turn secured to the skimmer arm through a torsion bar so as to permit vertical movement of the scum blades while maintaining a downward bias thereon as they move along the scum beach.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Shaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/24; B01D21/2433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 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 TOTATION ABOUT A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL AXIS SO AS TO PUSH THEFLOATING MATTER AHEAD OF IT, AND B. A SCRUM POCKET MEANS SECURED TO AND CARIED BY THE OUER END OF SAID SURFACE SKIMMING ARM FOR RECEIVING AND DIRECTING SAID FLOATING MATTER INTO A SCRUM COLLECTION ASSEMBLY POSITIONED ADJACENT THE OUTER PHERIPHERY OF SAID TANK, SAID SCRUM POCKET MEANS BEING DEFINED BY A FIRST INNER SIDE MEMBER SECURED TO SAID SKIMMING ARM, AN OUTER SIDE MEMBER RIGIDLY AFFIXED WITHIN SAID TANK, AND A PAIR OF SKIMMER BLADE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND INDEPENDENTLY BIASED TO SEAL AGAINST SAID FIRST INNER SIDE MEMBER AND SAID OUTER SIDE MEMBER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 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 TOTATION ABOUT A CENTRALLY DISPOSED VERTICAL AXIS SO AS TO PUSH THEFLOATING MATTER AHEAD OF IT, AND B. A SCRUM POCKET MEANS SECURED TO AND CARIED BY THE OUER END OF SAID SURFACE SKIMMING ARM FOR RECEIVING AND DIRECTING SAID FLOATING MATTER INTO A SCRUM COLLECTION ASSEMBLY POSITIONED ADJACENT THE OUTER PHERIPHERY OF SAID TANK, SAID SCRUM POCKET MEANS BEING DEFINED BY A FIRST INNER SIDE MEMBER SECURED TO SAID SKIMMING ARM, AN OUTER SIDE MEMBER RIGIDLY AFFIXED WITHIN SAID TANK, AND A PAIR OF SKIMMER BLADE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND INDEPENDENTLY BIASED TO SEAL AGAINST SAID FIRST INNER SIDE MEMBER AND SAID OUTER SIDE MEMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said skimmer blade means are positioned adjacent one another in an overlapping relationship and flexible support member means are provided for independently securing said skimmer blade means to said surface skimming arm while maintaining said bias on said respective blade means towards said first inner side member and said outer side member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said scum collection assembly includes a second inner side member and said outer side member, a scum beach member which angles upward in the direction of movement of said skimmer blade means and a scum trough which drops down below the upper edge of said scum beach member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said support member means are pivotally secured about a substantially horizontal axis to said surface skimming arm so as to permit vertical movement of said skimmer blade means as they move along said scum beach member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said support member means are secured to a torsion bar member which in turn is secured to said skimming arm so as to permit vertical movement of said skimmer blade means while maintaining a downward bias thereon as they move along said scum beach member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 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; b. an anti-rotation arm rigidly affixed within said tank, said skimming arm and said anti-rotation arm form a wedge therebetween which becomes smaller and moves outward as said skimming arm approaching said anti-rotation arm; and c. a scum pocket means secured to and carried by the outer end of said surface skimming arm for receiving and directing the outwardly moving floating matter into a scum collection assembly positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said tank, said scum pocket means being defined by a first inner side member secured to said skimming arm, an outer side member rigidly affixed within said tank, and a pair of skimmer blade means extending between and independently biased to seal against said inner side member and said outer side member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 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; b. an anti-rotation arm rigidly affixed within said tank, said skimming arm and said anti-rotation arm form a wedge therebetween which becomes smaller and moves outward as said skimming arm approaching said anti-rotation arm; and c. a scum pocket means secured to and carried by the outer end of said surface skimming arm for receiving and directing the outwardly moving floating matter into a scum collection assembly positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said tank, said scum pocket means being defined by a first inner side member secured to said skimming arm, an outer side member rigidly affixed within said tank, and a pair of skimmer blade means extending between and independently biased to seal against said inner side member and said outer side member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said skimmer blade means are positioned adjacent one another in an overlapping relationship and flexible support member means are provided for independently securing said skimmer blade means to said surface skimming arm while maintaining said bias on said respective blade means towards said first inner side member and said outer side member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said flexible support members act as leaf springs and have first ends secured to said corresponding skimmer blade members and second ends secured to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said scum collection assembly includes a second inner side member and said outer side member, a scum beach member which angles upward in the direction of movement of said skimmer blade means and a scum trough which drops down below the upper edge of said scum beach member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said second ends of said support member means are pivotally secured about a substantially horizontal axis to said surface skimming arm so as to permit vertical movement of said skimmer blade means as they move along said scum beach member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said second ends of said support member means are secured to a torsion bar member which in turn is secured to said skimming arm so as to permit vertical movement of said skimmer blade means while maintaining a downward bias thereon as they move along said scum beach member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein the bottom surface of said scum trough slopes downward and outward towards the outer periphery of said tank so as to direct the material collected therein towards a discharge pipe in communication with said bottom surface adjacent said outer periphery of said tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one guide rail extends across the top of said scum trough for guiding said skimmer blades thereacross.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2611489A
Cited
US2707560A
Cited
US2876863A
Cited
US2822928A
Cited
US3465887A
Cited
US3627132A
Cited
US3820659A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |