Apparatus for the selective skimming of a light liquid layer on a body of water

Claim 2

Apparatus for removing floating liquid pollutants from a body of water, comprising: a hull provided with means for moving it in a predetermined direction through the body of water and having two lateral parts, and a vertical central part, placed between the lateral parts, projecting forwards with respect to the latter in said predetermined direction and bearing immersed deflector wings part at least of which is located forward of the lateral parts, said wings being shaped for creating vortices in the water body, the orientation of said vortices tending to diminish the divergence of the flow lines in the vicinity of free water level ahead of said lateral parts due to movement of the apparatus, said lateral parts and central part cooperating to define ducts directing a flow of water and pollutant taken close to the water level to separator means in said hull.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transversal distance between the side parts increases forwardly from the intake of said channels.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising substantially horizontal wall means immersed at a depth higher than the maximum height of the swell and connecting said side parts and said central part.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said separator means comprise at least one row of a plurality of vertical centrifugal separators in each said side part.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein those of said centrifugal separators which are located in the same side part are each provided with cylindrical distributor means, all said distributor means being supplied in parallel flow relation by a bi-dimensional manifold through a valve, and with an energy recovery diffuser located at the lower part of the separator, all diffusers being connected to a same exhaust system provided with water ejection means.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each said separator is provided with means for selectively directing a fraction containing the liquid to storage containers.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said directing means comprise steam jet ejectors located on a flow path from a pollutant-enriched outlet of said separators to said storage containers received in said lateral parts.

Claim 11

Apparatus for selectively removing a layer of light liquid from a body of water, said apparatus comprising a hull, means for moving said hull in a predetermined direction through a body of water, said hull comprising two lateral parts and a vertical central part disposed between said lateral parts, said central part extending forwardly of said lateral parts in said predetermined direction, said lateral parts and said central part cooperating to define therebetween ducts directing a flow of water and light liquid to separator means in said hull, and means located under the free water level for creating vortices in the water flow ahead of said ducts and producing a transverse water flow component toward said central part adjacent the free surface and away from said central part substantially below said surface, said latter means comprising deflector wings carried by said central part and at a depth sufficient to be permanently beneath the free water level.

Claim 12

Apparatus for selectively removing a layer of light liquid from a body of water, said apparatus comprising a hull, means for moving said hull in a predetermined direction through a body of water, said hull comprising two lateral parts and a vertical central part disposed between said lateral parts, said central part extending forwardly of said lateral parts in said predetermined direction, said lateral parts and said central part cooperating to define therebetween ducts directing a flow of water and light liquid to separator means in said hull, and means located under the free water level for creating vortices in the water flow ahead of said ducts and producing a transverse water flow component toward said central part adjacent the free surface and away from said central part substantially below said surface, said latter means comprising deflector wings carried by said central part and at a depth sufficient to be permanently beneath the free water level.