System for separating liquids

Claim 1

In a system for separating two immiscible liquids of different specific gravities, a vertically disposed generally cylindrical tank having an inlet to receive a mixture of a lighter liquid and a heavier liquid, first outlet means communicating with the lower portion of the tank for discharging the heavier liquid, second outlet means communicating with the upper portion of the tank for discharging said lighter liquid, separator means in said tank and comprising a single generally flat plate disposed in said tank in direct alignment with said inlet, said plate being inclined upwardly and away from said inlet and extending upwardly from a level beneath said inlet to a level above said inlet and toward said second outlet means, said plate having an upper edge extending generally chordwise of said tank and having a lower curved edge disposed generally contiguous to the inner surface of said tank, approximately one half of the cross sectional area of the tank throughout the entire height of the tank being unobstructed whereby said mixture entering the tank through said inlet is deflected upwardly by said plate and said lighter liquid is collected as a layer in the upper end of said tank for discharge through said second outlet means and said heavier liquid flows downwardly through the unobstructed cross sectional area of said tank for discharge through said first outlet means.