Abstract: A separator is fed with liquid from a slaughterhouse which will be a mixture of water, tallow, and solids. The tallow rises to the top, and solids go to the bottom. Nearly clean water is withdrawn between the top and bottom. The nearly clean water is withdrawn into a plenum ring which is blocked at one point and has an outlet pipe connected adjacent to the block. Therefore, the liquid in the plenum ring flows in only one direction. The cross section of the plenum ring is many times greater than the cross section of the outlet pipe so that the flow within the plenum ring is gentle. Baffles in the plenum ring divert any tallow which rises to the top of the plenum ring back into the separator. A sump in the plenum ring adjacent to the outlet pipe draws off any solid which settle out in the plenum ring. A constant bleed is provided at the bottom of the sump to help withdraw the settling solids.

Abstract: A filter includes a housing which removably receives a filter cartridge adapted to remove fine and coarse debris from water flowing therethrough. The filter is removably mounted in a skimmer well of a swimming pool in place of a conventional strainer basket. The interchangeability of the filter and the strainer basket permits them to be used selectively such that the strainer basket can be used during a pool skimming operation and the filter can be used during a pool vacuuming operation.

Abstract: A dip tube, being a branch line from a gas pressure line, extends into a liquid in a vented bubble pot. The bubble pot comprises a precision bore vessel containing a displaceable body with an actuator, preferably a stepping motor, for moving the body arranged outside the pot. Displacement of the body changes the liquid level in the vessel to thereby regulate the pressure in the gas pressure line.

Abstract: A dynamic filtration unit for drilling and completion fluids employs an adjustable size annulus, high filtration pressures and temperatures, automatic filtration collection and measurement, and natural or artificial filters.

Abstract: A process for the desalinization of sea water which includes a barrier buried to a depth below the low tide water level in a sandy beach, and a collector vault or well buried in the beach behind the barrier, the well having an opening in its side for receiving water passing through the barrier. The barrier is filled with selected filter materials, and the sand in the area between the barrier and the well is treated with a selected material. The barrier extends through a water-permeable layer of crushed or fossilized shells naturally occurring beneath the sandy beach. The well opening is positioned within this shell layer. After a period of pumping, desalinated water will appear in the well and may be pumped out of the well. Whenever the water in the well is pumped below a particular level, a new supply of desalinated water will flow in through the opening in its side from the barrier.

Abstract: A skimmer-diverter assembly for removing floating debris in a swimming pool has an alongated arm portion with a first flow diverter to establish a flow upwardly and inwardly along the upstream side of the arm, and a second diverter on the end of the arm to enhance the flow inwardly along the downstream side of the arm.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus having one or more upright tubular filter elements having a surface coated with a pre-coat layer of a filter aid through which a liquid is filtered. Different from conventional apparatuses, the filter element of the present invention is provided with a gas exhaust tube or liquid drain tube connected to the upper or lower part of the filter element, respectively. By virtue of this means, the liquid used for forming the pre-coat layer as the suspension medium can be completely discharged out of the apparatus prior to introduction of the liquid to be filtered so that the liquid in the apparatus can be switched from the pre-coat forming liquid to the filtered liquid without producing a mixture thereof, and without causing defects in the pre-coat layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable swimming pool skimmer which can be positioned at any point along the periphery of a swimming pool. The portable skimmer includes a weighted base member from which extends in on outward and downward direction a bracket for holding a skimmer basket. The bracket is vertically adjustable so that the skimmer basket is positioned slightly below the water surface to allow a skimming action. At the bottom of the basket, a fitting to which one end of a pool hose may be attached is provided. The other end of the pool hose is attached to a suction line from the pool pump and filter assembly, which suction line may be a part of a built in skimmer or another hose from the built in skimmer to another device, such as an automatic pool cleaner. In the latter situation, a restriction in the skimmer hose is provided to minimize the suction pressure which operates the pool cleaning device.

Abstract: An automatic air pressure relief and check valve assembly which may be used in combination with a swimming pool filter or separation tank. The valve assembly includes a normally open lower valve which is responsive to the tank's being full of water for closing the lower valve, and a normally closed upper valve which is responsive to air being expelled from the tank through the normally open lower valve for opening the upper valve during times when water is filling the tank. The upper valve may be selectively opened when air is required to enter the tank so that water may be drained from the tank. Preferred embodiments of the upper and lower valves include valve seats having conical surfaces and respective valve members which cause an included O-ring to roll upon and wedge against its conical seat for reliably closing each valve.

Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaning apparatus has a surface supply hose connected to a floating unit and a further underwater hose that is connected at one end to the surface unit in fluid communication with the outlet of the surface hose and at its other outlet end to a non-buoyant cleaning unit. The underwater hose and the cleaning unit have jets directed in a downstream direction so that the cleaning unit moves through water in the pool and the underwater hose pushes the surface unit around. The cleaning unit carries a bag in which debris is collected. The surface hose also carries a jet to pull the surface unit around. The surface unit also has a jet which displaces and rotates the surface unit. The surface unit has a flotation member that is rotatable about a vertical axis. A first connector is rotatably mounted below the flotation member and a second connector is rotatably connected to the first connector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided wherein liquid is removed from a liquid-solids mixture by employing both filtration and low pressures to achieve vaporization of liquid. The mixture is introduced to a vessel in which the mixture is filtered so that a substantial portion of the liquid is withdrawn from the vessel. The vessel is then depressurized to an extent necessary to vaporize a substantial portion of the remaining liquid. Such vapor is withdrawn from the vessel. During vaporization, the contents of the vessel are agitated and heated.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning apparatus carries a scraper and deflecting member along one side of a mouth defined by a receptacle of the apparatus and in advance thereof. The scraper and deflecting member has a blade inclined towards the mouth and having a leading edge that may scrapingly engage a wall or floor of the swimming pool. The scraper and deflecting member is pivotally mounted on the apparatus by means of two legs that extend from the ends of the blade. The blade has two ribs on its underneath surface parallel to its leading edge which assist in scraping the walls of the swimming pool.

Abstract: A skimmer cover plate is disclosed for use with a pool skimmer system. The skimmer cover plate allows the pool skimmer to work alternatively with an underwater suction operated pool cleaner. The skimmer cover plate is designed to seal the upper surface of the well of a skimmer. The hose of the suction cleaner is connectable to a pipe on the cover plate. The cover plate includes an indexable valve which is movable between two positions for varying the flow of fluid and debris from the pool directly into the well and basket of the pool skimmer. When fluid flow is restricted through the valve, the suction will be diverted to power the pool cleaner. When the valve is opened, debris will pass from the surface of the skimmer through the valve and into the basket for collection. An indexable valve is provided which indexes in response to the cycling of the pump.

Abstract: A method of producing a plain bearing shell with shock-absorbing anti-friction coating consisting in placing a blank (1) in the form of a compressed tangle of metal wire helices into a die (2), overlaying the blank (1) with a sheet (3) of fluoroplastic, heating the blank (1) and the sheet (3) to 220.degree.-260.degree. C., punching them under a pressure of 100-150 MPa with a time delay of 4-6 min, and cooling.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of fresh water from seawater, intended to be immersed into the marine medium. The apparatus comprises one high pressure chamber (1) containing a selective semi-permeable reverse osmosis membrane (11) and a bell chamber (14) having an internal axial piston permitting by a multiplier effect, to obtain at the interior of the chamber (1) a pressure equal to the exterior pressure multiplied by a ratio S/s of the working surfaces of the bell chamber and the internal piston. The semi-permeable membrane communicates across a separation wall (3) of the high pressure chamber with the interior volume of the bell chamber (14). This internal volume is placed in communication with the surface by a flexible tube (25) in such a manner as to play the dual role of, on one hand, a subatmospheric gas chamber, and on the other hand means for receiving fresh water after osmosis across the membrane.

Abstract: An amphibious self-contained oil spill absorbing machine having a chassis supported and propelled on land by front and rear rollers. The front roller has a covering of oil absorbing material and works against a pinch roller to squeeze oil absorbed by the covering into a trough for collection. The machine may be driven into the water supported by floats adjustable by rams to control the depth of penetration of the roller. Operation is possible in shallow water, on beaches and in estuary conditions.

Abstract: An orally operable water filter includes an outer covering formed of a flexible, water impervious material and which defines an elongate enclosure. A flexible microporous filter membrane, having a pore size of not more than one micron, is disposed within the elongate enclosure and divides the enclosure into respective fluid inlet and fluid outlet compartments, such that the outlet may be placed in the mouth of the user and the fluid inlet may be contacted with a source of water to be filtered by drawing the water through the filter using oral suction. Furthermore, the filter includes a flexible separator, disposed at least in the outlet compartment, for preventing the blocking of fluid over the surface of the filter membrane.

Abstract: A waste collection device for accumulating solid waste downstream of a kitchen garbage grinder includes a separator for settling solid material from waste water and a removable waste accumulating container into which household garbage is collected. The waste accumulating container is removable and a cap, including a carrying handle, is fastenable over the opening for carrying to and emptying onto a compost heap. A pressure release valve is provided in the waste accumulating container to prevent damage from the build-up of gases.

Abstract: An aquarium filter for mounting externally of an aquarium tank. The filter includes an intake chamber for receiving contaminated aquarium water from the aquarium tank and a filtering chamber in flow communication with the intake chamber for filtering of the contaminated water and subsequent return of the clean water back to the aquarium tank. An impeller unit driven by a rotor magnetically coupled to a removably attached electromagnetic stator unit serves to draw the water from the aquarium tank to the intake chamber through a removable intake tube assembly. A partition wall separates the intake chamber from the filtering chamber for the water filling the intake chamber to overflow the partition wall into the filtering chamber. Upon stoppage of the impeller, the water from the intake chamber siphons back into the aquarium tank.

Abstract: A siphon fluid-solid separation apparatus and a process, wherein a liquid having undissolved solids is introduced into an upper vessel. The liquid and smaller particles of undissolved solids are drawn away from the larger particles of undissolved solids by siphonage. In one embodiment, the larger particles of undissolved solids settle to the bottom of the upper vessel. The smaller particles of undissolved solids are deposited in a porous medium as the liquid and smaller particles of undissolved solids flow through the porous medium by siphonage.