AU659230C

AU659230C - Mobile floating surface skimmer

Info

Publication number: AU659230C
Application number: AU27723/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dennis Plink; Max Ronald Plink; Robbert Willem Plink
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-14
Filing date: 1992-10-13
Publication date: 1999-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-13

Description

Invention Title: MOBILE FLOATING SURFACE SKIMMER

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

A mobile floating surface skimmer which exploits the surface tension properties of liquids in order to remove a layer of liquid from the surface of a body of liquid, which may contain contaminants at or near the surface of the liquid, or which may itself be a contaminating liquid atop another body of liquid.

The unit consists of a frame (1) into which are incorporated a vessel (2) and a number of buoyancy and ballast elements. These elements are arranged so as not to significantly impede the flow of surface liquid and contaminants into the vessel, ana the vessel typically tapers from inlet to outlet. The vessel inlet is presented to the surface of the liquid. Suction is applied to the vessel is outlet, such as via a hose connection to a remote pump, to create a pressure differential either side of the vessel wall, and to provide a channel for the liquid and any contaminants to drain out of the vessel. Fitted into the vessel wall is a valve (3). The valve is designal to operate in a submerged position, so as to regulate and maintain a flow of liquid to the vessel outlet, whilst maintaining a waterfall of surface liquid, and any contaminants, at the vessel inlet. The valve vane has an amount of buoyancy to effect closure.

Adjustment is provided to enable the level of the vessel inlet to be shifted with respect to the surface level of the liquid in which the skimmer is floating.

Appropriate design of the valve, together with the placement of buoyancy and ballast elements provides for a range of skimmer vertical behaviour from a relatively steady operation to a pulsating action. For example, a more responsive valve will provide a more steady operation, whereas an over-compensating valve will provide a more oscillatory operation. Buoyancy and ballast elements provide restoring forces which pull the skimmer back to a position of equilibrium and these may be arranged so as to provide a more pronounced oscillatory response. The principle of operation, however, remains the same.

The skimmer is placed in the liquid and the vessel height is adjusted to position the inlet just below the surface of the liquid. Until suction is applied, the skimmer will simply float at the surface of the liquid. When suction is applied the pressure inside the vessel will lower and a flow of liquid will be established at the vessel inlet. The liquid level inside the vessel will lower and this will cause the skimmer to rise in the liquid. The valve will open to restore the pressure equilibrium and to replenish the liquid level inside the vessel. As the liquid level inside the vessel rises the skimmer will lower into the liquid and the valve will close. The liquid level inside the vessel will begin to lower again, the skimmer will begin to rise, and the cycle will repeat.

In some modes of operation the valve may not open fully or close fully, or may remain essentially steady at some intermediate position, but it must remain submerged at all times in order to operate correctly.

Claims

The claims defining this invention are as follows:-

1. A mobile floating surface skimmer comprising a frame, ballast and buoyancy elements, a vessel into which liquid and contaminants can flow, from the surface or near the surface, an outlet from the vessel, and a valve sensitive to water pressure variations.

2. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claim 1 incorporating one or more pressure sensitive valves.

3. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 and 2 incorporating any type of pressure sensitive valve.

4. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 - 3 but with no adjustment required to alter the distance between the liquid surface and the top of the vessel.

5. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 - 4 operating with no waterfall at the surface.

6. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 - 5 but with remote control of the valve and or adjustment of surface to vessel top distance.

7. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 - 6 but with the liquid which feeds the valve being supplied from a remote source, not necessarily in the body of liquid in which the mobile floating surface skimmer is operating.

8. The mobile floating surface skimmer as in claims 1 - 7 but with automatic adjustment of the relationship of the level of the top of the vessel to the level of the surface of the liquid in which the mobile floating surface skimmer is operating.