US2493166A

US2493166A - Foam skimmer

Info

Publication number: US2493166A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1950-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1950 H. A. SCHMITZ, JR

FOAM SKIMMER Filed Jan. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1950 H. A. SCHMITZ, JR

FOAM sK I MMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, L946 fzzf en/ 2 Henry )4 625229, J:

fl arney 'a tank that provides Patented Jan. 3, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE FOAM SKIMMER Henry A. Schmitz, Jn, Shorewood, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application January 24, 1946, Serial No. 643,166

3 Claims. '1

Thisinvention relates to a foam skimmer and has particular relation to a foam skimmer for. a

to catch scum and foam from the liquid being fermented in the tank.

Another object is to provide a receptacle to receive and retain foam and scum that does not decrease the fermenting space within the tank.

A further-object is to provide a receptacle for skimming foam off from fermentedliquid within for ready removal of the foam.

Another object is to provide afoam skimmer permitting removal of foam and scum while the tank is in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the foam skimmer of the invention and a portion of a tank with the door to the skimmer receptacle in closed position;

Fig. 2is a similar view with the door open;

Fig. 3 is an end view with the door closed;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view with parts broken away and sectioned with the door closed and the skimmer receptacle welded to the front wall;

and r Fig. -5-is a top diagonal view of the tank with the door open and the skimmer receptacle welded to the front and side walls of the tank.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a portion of a tank I, such as a beer tank, lined with ceramic enamel 2 or the like to prevent injury to the beer and corrosion by the contents of the tank and within which at one end and adjacent the top 3 thereof, is assembled a skimmer receptacle 4 access to which is gained by the closure door 5.

The receptacle 4 is secured to one side of the tank a substantial distance below the top 3 and directly beneath the cleanout opening 6 closed by door 5. Opening 6 also is employed to work through if receptacle 4 is coated with ceramic enamel or the like.

The skimmer receptacle is formed from suit able metal and comprises a plate that is joined to the front wall of the tank I such as by welds I,

2 and projects inwardly from the wall of the tank. Receptacle 4 is shown as. being of stainless steel but it may .be a receptacle protected from corrosion by a coating of ceramic enamel.

The inner end portion 8 of the receptacle 4 curves upwardly and the sides 9 are also upwardly curved. The peripheral edge I0 is disposed slightly above the normal level of the fermenting liquid contained within the tank and is at a level at which scum and foam forced upwardly within the liquid in the fermenting process will flow over the same and be caught and retained within receptacle 4.

A drain opening is provided in the bottom of receptacle 4 and the removable plug. II is disposed therein to permit draining and cleaning of the receptacle when tank I is empty.

The receptacle 4 is preferably formed with a slight slope in the bottom portion toward the cleanout opening 6 and the drain to more readily provide for cleaning out the receptacle or draining of the receptacle when plug I I' is removed.

The openingt orentrance to receptacle 4 is closed in operation by the door 5 when liquid is fermenting in the tank.

Thedoor 5 is held securely against the inside of the wall of the tank around opening 6 by a plurality of latches I2 which are pivoted to the outer wall of the tank adjacent opening 6 and disposed to interlock with the matching lugs 13 secured to the'door. The handle on each latch I 2 provides for ready manipulation thereof.

The joint between the door and wall is sealed by a suitable gasket M of rubber or the like.

A curved lever arm 15 is securedat one end to the center of door 5 and at the other end the arm is pivoted to the wall of tank I at a suitable distance above the door and on a vertical line through the center thereof.

A handle 16 extends outwardly of the upper portion of arm l5 and is grasped and pushed upwardly by the operator to swing door 5 closed through a downward are, or pulled downwardly to push the door open and upwardly through an upward arc.

A pipe !1 leads from receptacle 4 to any suitable container, not shown, and foam trapped in the receptacle when liquid is fermenting in the tank is drained off by opening stopcock l8.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to the embodiment previously described, except that the skimmer receptacle 4 extends completely across the tank and is welded to the front and side walls of the tank by welds I9. The tank walls cooperate withreceptacle 4 fermentiii to retain the foam and scum within the receptacle until the foam is removed.

In operation, the liquid to be fermented is disposed in tank I through a suitable opening not shown, until it reaches a level slightly below that of the inner peripheral edge H] of the skimmer receptacle 47.

The cleanout opening 6 is, closed by door 5 which is sealed against the innerwall of the tank by gasket l4 when latches l2 are interlocked 1 A end to the outside of the tank wall above said with lugs l3.

As the contained liquid ferments scum andfoam are forced upwardlyandiiow over theedge 10 into receptacle 4.

From time to time stopcock I8 is opened and foam and scum is drained from receptacle 4 through pipe 11 leading toa'nysuitable disposal unit.

When the fermentation of the liquid within the tank 5 qwn sted riangula s r m ve and k m r. r t ntatle. 4 maybet'q d through 5 to open position.

ii nlin s after wi' l liae ried to completely drain Plug] also be rem harct pta e- "Othefopenings not shown, are provided in t g-1?to r sn'fangf n the tank when it is g i c. .l V

The invention providesa foam skimmer that dq nQtt Es; 1 an s bst n ia ac Within the wi h n Sai ,an 'ai ,flrg qti Plate dl 1 aroun'tl'the entire'iriner portion thereof an amine the. a z 'iia he s' i l ry'q he tion'of the receptaclebeing disposed slightly curl/61 c K w. H,

uter portionoithe' plate secured aldovet'heisurface tile rea ra g ng liquid within the-thine perin itfiow of-foain and scinn therewa st the. ts ta l sw a n m is ares o as enamh liquid mis menting process, means providing access into through openffig' in theft/s11 offthe tank directly'abov the'lbott m qf said receptacle; means to sea; "saidilattefr means clos'edwhen' theliquid is 4 namean stb tenets foamfr'om said rec'ptacl' hen"'the' tank; isf'seale'd during fermenta'tionof liqi'iidt'hefe'jfi. V

2I"In"6oiribifia tiofn with'a closed fermenting tankfa foa'iii 'skimmercomfirising'a receptacle welded to the insideof thetahkw'all beneath an opening in the wall for access thereto for cleanout purposes and projecting inwardly a substantial distance from the wall with the inner edge slightly above the surface of the liquid fermenting within the tank to permit overflow into the receptacle of foam and scum forced to the surface, of the liquid in, the fermentation process, a door on the inside of said tank for closing said opening, a' curved lever arm secured at one end to said door and pivoted at the other opening to swing said door inwardly to open the sameand outwardlyto close the same, a plurality of latclilme rnbers to" lock said door in closed positiqriiwhenliquidfis fermenting within the tank, and a drain pipe leading from said receptacle to drain foam andsciim therefrom when the tank is sealedduring fermenting of liquid therein.

'combination with a closed fermenting film-e a 4, 2 S amme comp i a regeptacle weld o the insi e of the tank wall directly beneath jano ning'in the wall 'rbr access thereto and projecting inwardly a substantial distance f om th welli itn h nner edge slightly above he su ac 9 the' l qu d ist'ma l within the tank to permit overflow into thefrjeceptacle of foam .andfscum forcedio the-surface of the liquid ihthe fermentation process, said receptacle being formed with the bottom "sloping toward said opening and provided-with a removable plug in the bottom thereof for cleanout'p'urposes, and-a door disposed to seal said'opening and to swing awa thsrefirqm an q m ss to h receptacl 9 em val 921. nd m therefrom fat r he iquid fe men ed t n i removed therefrom, and means to remove foam from said receptacle when the tank is sealed during fernr i atidz il ui e 'n- HENR -a, SC-HMITZ, JR.

REFERENCES; crrnn Numb?!