Oil/water disperser device for use in an oil content monitor/control system

Claim 1

In a system for processing a ship's bilge water including an oil/water separator followed by apparatus for sampling effluent from the separator and sensing oil concentration remaining therein and means for directing pressurized effluent overboard only when the oil concentration remaining in the effluent is below a predetermined level and returning the effluent to the bilge when the oil concentration remaining in the effluent is above the predetermined level, the improvement comprising: a disperser; said disperser including a body adapted to be connected by piping between the oil/water separator and the sampling and sensing apparatus for allowing processed effluent to flow therethrough; cylindrical plunger means slidably received in the body for oscillatory movement therein; said plunger means having a cylindrical wall surrounding a bore extending axially therethrough with one open end facing upstream for receiving effluent entering the body and the other open end facing downstream; relief cap means in the body downstream of the plunger and including a portion for closing the other open end when biased thereagainst; spring means biasing the relief cap toward the plunger means for closing the open end and to defining pressure release means for the effluent; said spring means also biasing the plunger in the upstream direction against pressurized effluent flow; and, axially extending slot means in the plunger cylinder wall defining orifice means for the effluent and having an area opening which depends upon the instantaneous position of the oscillatory plunger in the body; whereby, upon effluent passage through the body, sliding oscillatory action is imparted to the plunger between the spring bias in one direction and effluent flow in the other direction to cause oscillatory orifice shear on the effluent to provide uniform distribution of oil droplets therein.