Abstract: An improved gravitational separator for mixtures of immiscible liquids of different densities, particularly oil and water, includes a reaction member in the form of a dome or diaphragm immersed in more dense liquid to be separated and which floats upwardly in the more dense liquid under the influence of liquid of less density accumulated beneath the dome or diaphragm. A coalescer screen filter system is provided in the water outlet path in the separator, the coalescer screens being contained in a chamber provided with automatically operating, one-way, pressure responsive valves to ensure proper flow of water in a forward and backflush sense through the chamber. A flotation feature for the reaction member is provided, and the reaction member includes an auxiliary air chamber to prevent loss of a minimum desired residual layer of less dense fluid beneath the reaction member when air accumulates in this area. A specific inflow and outflow conduit arrangement is provided to minimize turbulence in the separator.

Abstract: An exciter for use with a shaft speed magnetic pickup includes a strip of flexible, stretchable, sheet material having a plurality of magnetic elements attached to it that are uniformly spaced along the strip, enabling the magnetic elements to be attached to the exterior of various diameter rotatable shafts by stretching and fastening the strip about the circumference of the shaft close to the magnetic pickup which generates an electrical pulse signal whenever a magnetic element passes by it. The pulse signal is processed to produce a readout of shaft speed. Two magnetic pickups circumferentially spaced about the shaft closer than the circumferential spacing of the magnetic elements are used to provide signals that can be processed to indicate shaft direction of rotation as well as shaft speed.

Abstract: A marine vessel is provided with a closed tank for gravity separation of oil and water. A boom extending laterally from the vessel sweeps the surface of a body of water on which the vessel floats and a skimmer associated with the boom skims surface oil and some water into a conduit leading to a manifold extending around the upper inner periphery of the tank. The manifold discharges upwardly into the tank through a multiplicity of ports, the tank preferably being completely filled with oil and/or water. Separated water is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank through a plurality of coalescing filters having large exposed coalescer screens. Hoods over the coalescers direct flow thereto to ensure uniform distribution of water and oil globules over their surfaces and direct coalesced oil toward the upper region of the tank in a concentrated stream. A pump withdraws the water from the tank and discharges it into the ambient water. Flow produced by the pump can be reversed for backwashing the coalescers.

Abstract: A flow control vane in a moving current of water causes lowering of the surface of water rearwardly of the vane. The vane is placed transversely across the front of a surface skimmer in an oil boom apparatus used to collect and remove floating oil from a body of water moving relatively towards the skimmer. The vane causes a stable pool of water to form behind it, the pool having a surface level lower than surrounding water, and improves operation of the skimmer. The vane is an upright and inclined web element having a forwardly curved upper leading edge and a rearwardly curved lower trailing edge.

Abstract: An improved gravitational separator for mixtures of immiscible liquids of different densities, particularly oil and water, includes a reaction member in the form of a dome or diaphragm immersed in more dense liquid to be separated and which floats upwardly in the more dense liquid under the influence of liquid of less density accumulated beneath the dome or diaphragm, and a precise, passive balance means for the reaction member used to sense the accumulation of a predetermined volume of less dense liquid in the separator. The balance means is a system of weight masses contained entirely in the separator that are raised by the upward movement of the reaction member under the influence of accumulated less dense fluid, in combination with remote sensing means outside the separator for sensing the respective balance conditions and signalling appropriate system controls to cause suspension of the influx of mixture into the separator and discharge therefrom of accumulated lighter liquid.

Abstract: An environmentally protective bilge water disposal system utilizes an inverted dome gravitational oil separator unit in combination with an engine exhaust flash water vaporizor to remove and recover oil contamination from the bilge water prior to its disposal by flash evaporation in the exhaust stack. The system is capable of operating continuously under regulation by an electrical control arrangement that ensures safety of the engine, and shutting down of the system if certain key components do not function in a proper manner. The system includes a pump, an oil separator, control valves and sensors for various operating parameters and mechanical functions of the system, such parameters and functions including bilge fluid level, water pump function, water flow valve function, engine fuel pressure, engine throttle air pressure, engine exhaust stack temperature, separator function, separator dome position, and oil storage level.

Abstract: An oil boom for sweeping and collecting oil from the surface of a body of water is constructed of a framework of structural members arranged in the form of a box beam, the framework supporting two parallel rows of floating barrier screen panels and being connected to end floats. Flow diverter vanes beneath the barrier screen panels cause a surface transport current to flow between the two rows of the panels towards a surface skimmer located adjacent one end of the boom when the boom is towed in a direction transversely of its length across a body of water to be swept. The forwardmost row of barrier screen panels sweeps floating oil on the water surface towards the skimmer, and the transport current carries oil that is caught in the underflow beneath the forwardmost row of panels towards the skimmer.

Abstract: An oil boom assembly for collecting lighter liquid from the surface of a body of water includes a plurality of elongated, parallel rows of vertical, buoyant, barrier screen members connected together by flexible means and rigidly braced to hold the rows in parallel relationship in upright position when afloat in water. The rows are of progressively longer length and define open channels therebetween for the flow of liquid. A floating liquid diverter means at one end of the boom diverts relatively moving liquid into the channels to cause transport currents to flow therein towards the opposite ends of the channels, where a liquid skimmer means is provided to remove surface water and lighter fluid floating thereon. The progressive barrier lengths permit flow of surface water around the ends of the shorter barriers into the channels between the barriers and may be arranged to cause the diverting of flow around the ends of the shorter barriers into the channels therebetween and towards the skimmer means.