Apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid

Claim 2

Apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid comprising a tank having a bottom and side walls for receiving liquid, said tank having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet for a light-weight liquid and spaced apart from each other to be respectively adjacent said side walls and disposed above the elevation of said bottom for the flow of the light-weight liquid into and out of said tank, said tank having a liquid inlet for a heavy liquid and disposed adjacent said bottom for introducing the heavy liquid into said tank and presenting the heavy liquid in a layer underneath the light-weight liquid and providing a vehicle for moving the foreign solid particles which sink from the light-weight liquid, and said tank having a liquid conduit with a liquid entrance-way disposed adjacent said bottom and a liquid exit-way disposed at an elevation above that of said liquid entrance-way, said liquid entrance-way and said liquid inlet for said heavy liquid being spaced apart with respective ones thereof adjacent opposite ones of said side walls for the flow of the particle-laden heavy liquid out of said tank, a liquid-flow connector connected with said tank in liquid-flow communication with said liquid conduit exit-way for receiving the heavy fluid therefrom, and a hydro-cyclotron connected with said connector in liquid-flow communication with said liquid conduit for receiving the particle-laden heavy liquid and separating the particles therefrom.

Claim 3

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a liquid flow pipe connected between said hydro-cyclotron and said liquid inlet for the heavy liquid, for directing the heavy liquid to return to said tank.

Claim 4

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 2, including a liquid pump operatively connected between said liquid conduit and said hydro-cyclotron for the forced flow of the heavy liquid from said tank to said hydro-cyclotron.

Claim 5

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a liquid pump operatively connected with said liquid inlet for the heavy liquid, for introducing the heavy liquid into said tank under a liquid pressure.

Claim 6

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid conduit extends uprightly between said liquid entrance-way and said liquid exit-way with the latter being located at an elevation at least as high as that of said liquid outlet to cause the light-weight liquid to rise to the elevation of said liquid outlet.

Claim 7

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including an adjustable partition movably disposed on said conduit at said exit-way and arranged for adjusting the elevation of said exit-way.

Claim 8

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a top on said tank enclosing said tank above the light-weight liquid and thereby limiting the rise of the light-weight liquid in said tank, and a valve fluid-flow connected with said tank for controlling the flow of the light-weight liquid out of said tank.

Claim 9

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a liquid outlet chamber in liquid-flow communication with said liquid outlet, two vertically spaced-apart openings in liquid-flow communication with said chamber for the flow of liquid from said chamber, and a valve operative on the lower one of said two vertically spaced-apart openings for controlling the flow of the liquid through said openings.

Claim 10

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a heater member applied to the light-weight liquid for lowering the viscosity of the light-weight liquid and thereby facilitating the sinking of the solid foreign particles from the light-weight liquid.

Claim 11

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a magnet disposed in the light-weight liquid for attracting the solid foreign particles thereto and direct them to the heavy liquid.

Claim 12

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 10, wherein said magnet is submersed in both the liquids.

Claim 13

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 11, wherein said magnet is movably mounted for carrying the solid foreign particles from the light-weight liquid to the heavy liquid.

Claim 14

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 12, wherein said magnet is a rotatably mounted drum having its rotation axis horizontally disposed.

Claim 15

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 13, including a scraper in contact with said drum for removing the solid foreign particles from said drum.

Claim 16

The apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid as claimed in claim 1, including a liquid compartment in liquid-flow communication with said liquid exit-way, two vertically spaced-apart liquid outlet members in liquid-flow communication with said compartment for the flow of liquid from said compartment, and a flow control member operative on the lower one of said two vertically spaced-apart liquid outlet members for controlling the flow of the liquid through said outlet members.

Claim 17

Means for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid, comprising tank means for receiving two liquids of different specific gravities, two sets of liquid-flow means in liquid-flow communication with said tank means for separate and respective entrance and exit of the two liquids relative to said tank means, both of said liquid flow means having liquid inlets and liquid outlets relative to said tank means and respectively on opposite sides of said tank means for the entrance and exit of the two liquids relative to said tank means and for the flow across said tank means, both said liquid outlets being located in elevated positions on said tank means to effect overflow exit of the said liquids from said tank means, one of said liquid inlets being for the lesser specific gravity liquid and being located in an elevated position on said tank means and with the other of said liquid inlets being for the greater specific gravity liquid and being located in a position lower than said elevated position, pump means connected with said other of said liquid inlets for pumping the greater specific gravity liquid into said tank means beneath the lesser specific gravity liquid for flushing across the bottom of said tank means, a liquid-flow connector connected with said tank means in liquid-flow communication with said liquid outlet for the greater specific gravity liquid, and a hydro-cyclotron connected with said connector to be in liquid-flow communication therewith for the greater specific gravity liquid for receiving the particle-laden latter said liquid and separating the particles therefrom.

Claim 18

Means for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid, comprising tank means for receiving two liquids of different specific gravities, two sets of liquid-flow means in liquid-flow communication with said tank means for separate and respective entrance and exit of the two liquids relative to said tank means, both of said liquid flow means having liquid inlets and liquid outlets relative to said tank means and respectively on opposite sides of said tank means for the entrance and exit of the two liquids relative to said tank means and for the flow across said tank means, both said liquid outlets being located in elevated positions on said tank means to effect overflow exit of the said liquids from said tank means, one of said liquid inlets being for the lesser specific gravity liquid and being located in an elevated position on said tank means and with the other of said liquid inlets being for the greater specific gravity liquid and being located in a position lower than said elevated position, pump means connected with said other of said liquid inlets for pumping the greater specific gravity liquid into said tank means beneath the lesser specific gravity liquid for flushing across the bottom of said tank means, a liquid-flow connector connected with said tank means in liquid-flow communication with said liquid outlet for the greater specific gravity liquid, and a hydro-cyclotron connected with said connector to be in liquid-flow communication therewith for the greater specific gravity liquid for receiving the particle-laden latter said liquid and separating the particles therefrom.