Abstract: The improved apparatus of the present invention functions to substantially concentrate, separate, and remove floating solid materials from the surface of a volume of liquid. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus functions in two stages. In the first stage, the apparatus is directed to a treatment volume that is disposed adjacent an untreated volume of liquid. An entry means is disposed therebetween for flow of the surface portion of the untreated volume thereover. A baffle is disposed across the treatment volume and extends to a depth beneath the surface to permit the flow of the liquid thereunder, but to entrain the flow of solids material and to channel the flow of solids material into a take-off chamber over a take-off weir. In the second stage of the concentrating, separating, removing apparatus of the present invention, an influent flow of solids containing liquid is directed horizontally across and near the surface thereof to accumulate a sludge on the surface of the volume.

Abstract: A method of removing putty from windows by heating the putty until it softens, by means of infrared radiation (4) which is focused onto the putty, and the putty thus heated by infrared radiation is scraped away. Use may be made of an infrared heating apparatus (1) having an elongate heating wire (2) and an elliptical reflector (3) for focusing the infrared radiation (4) thus produced in a focal line (5), the apparatus also having a spacer member (8) extending up to the focal line and having an elongate opening (9) essentially in the plane of the focal line for conducting the infrared radiation to the putty.

Abstract: A process for fluidized contact in a mixed phase by intimately contacting a liquid or a mixture of a liquid and a gas with solid particles in a contact vessel having a double pipe contact portion composed of an inner pipe contact portion and an outer pipe contact portion, and a packed bed provided to surround the upper part of the inner pipe, includes the steps of:(1) feeding the liquid or the mixture of the liquid and the gas from the lower part of the contact vessel to the inner pipe contact portion to flow up the solid particles inside the inner pipe contact portion along with the liquid or the mixture of the liquid and the gas, further allowing the blend to overflow into the packed bed from the upper part of the inner pipe contact portion,(2) separating part of the liquid or the mixture of part of the liquid and the gas from the solid particles and most of the liquid in the packed bed,(3) flowing up the part of the liquid or the mixture of part of the liquid and the gas in the contact vessel, uniformly co

Abstract: The in-situ cleaning of conduits containing oily deposits is facilitated by the concurrent passage of cleaning particles and a non-agglomerating drying agent therethrough in a propelling gas stream. In cycling cleaning operations, the preliminary injection of drying agent into the conduit prior to said concurrent use of cleaning particles and drying agent further enhances the overall in-situ cleaning operation.

Abstract: A bicycle chain cleaning or lubricating device and method adapted for cleaning or lubricating bicycle chains in place without need for their removal and replacement. The device comprises a receptacle for enclosing a portion of a bicycle chain to be cleaned or lubricated and for containing a quantity of solvent or lubricant and a mating cover for the receptacle. The cover contains at least one rotatable sprocket brush having spaced-apart bristle tufts on its periphery and sized to fit closely into adjacent spaces in the bicycle chain, so that the movement of the chain through the device causes the chain and central brush to dip into the solvent or lubricant and then enter the spaces of the chain so as to clean or lubricate the chain as it is passed through the device. The receptacle and cover of the device are held together by suitable retainer means, such as a wire clamp located at the central portion of the device casing.

Abstract: A swimming pool filter system is comprised of a pump, a filter and a water conduit means for hydraulically connecting the pump and filter in a hydraulic loop with a swimming pool. The filter is a Hayward regenerable filter wherein the diatomaceous earth coating may be periodically shaken off the filter membrane to mix with the dirt and recoat the membrane several times between cleanings to extend the time between filter cleanings. A pressure sensitive switch, mounted at the filter inlet port, closes when the inlet pressure exceeds a predetermined magnitude to energize an alarm each time regeneration is needed or after five regenerations when cleaning will be required.

Abstract: A method for cleaning an exposed bundle of cable ends of multi conductor transmission cable, especially grease filled telephone cables, in which one places the bundle of cable ends, preferably after separation and/or rough cleaning, into a cleaning fluid-containing manually kneadable, flexible pouch, the open end of the pouch is sealed around the cable and a forceful cleaning action is obtained by kneading the pouch around the cable ends. After sufficient interaction time, the bundle is removed from the cleaning pouch and the cable ends are preferably wiped with a cloth.

Abstract: Two settling tanks are arranged one beside the other and are separated by a walk-in corridor. The settling tanks are defined by four longitudinal walls, one end wall, and two ramps, which are disposed opposite said end wall. Two additional tanks are provided on the opposite side of the end wall. The longitudinal walls carry overflow weirs, which are continued on the outside by discharge troughs, which open into the tank. Owing to the large effective length of the overflow weirs the overflow velocity is low and the settling effect is high.

Abstract: A mobile sewer and catch basin cleaning vehicle dislodges and removes debris in a conventional manner. The dislodged debris is then conveyed into a debris-receiving compartment where it undergoes a two-stage filtration process. The first stage removes the coarser debris from the reclaimed contaminated water. The second stage filters out the finer particulate debris by drawing such water through a finely filtered media surrounding a rotating drum. This filtered reclaimed water is then re-used in the cleaning operations. The extremely fine filtration media is continually cleaned by small amounts of clean water being applied at high pressure through nozzles designed to spray the entire media area as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A method and system for filtering cooking oil in cooking vessels is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system, there is provided a collection vessel for collecting filtered oil, a filter member for filtering contaminants and particulate matter from the cooking oil, and a centrifugal pump apparatus which includes an impeller, an impeller discharge, and a flexible conduit having an inlet end connected to the impeller discharge and an outlet end. The filter member is supported in relation to the collection vessel so as to be in position to receive oil to be filtered, and then to discharge filtered oil into the collection vessel. The centrifugal pump apparatus is adapted to be placed directly in the cooking vessel so that at least the impeller thereof is in direct contact with the oil to be filtered, and the outlet end of the flexible conduit is arranged to be in position to discharge oil pumped therethrough into the filter member.

Abstract: An improved collection bag is provided for mounting onto a swimming pool cleaner of the type for traveling along submerged pool surfaces to dislodge and collect debris, wherein the improved collection bag is designed particularly for use in collecting relatively large debris, such as leaves, twigs, and the like. The collection bag is formed from relatively open mesh fabric to have a generally L-shaped configuration including a generally upright forward leg defining a lower open mouth for mounting onto the discharge end of a pool cleaner suction mast, and blending at its upper end with a generally horizontal rear leg releasably suspended from a water supply hose for the pool cleaner by a suspension strap. In use, water and debris suctioned by the pool cleaner flow upwardly into a forward flow chamber within the bag, with the debris guiding rearwardly incident to forward travel of the pool cleaner into a rear collection chamber within the bag rear leg for collection and storage.

Abstract: A vacuum filter system for swimming pools, which includes a filter tank carrying a plurality of replaceable filter cartridges, the filter tank being in the suction line from the pool, which tank has an outlet connected to a pump which has a return line to the pool, with air being purged from the filter tank by the vacuum created in the filter tank when in operation.

Abstract: A separating device for two liquids of different density, in particular for separating an oil layer floating on a liquid surface by means of an over flow edge on a weir, said edge being positioned in the area of the boundary layer of the two liquids. The separating wall provided with the over flow edge has an convex-concave shape in a vertical direction and seals against the inside of the convex weir whereby an improved sealing with less leakage is obtained.The separating wall is hollow and can be accurately positioned vertically by remote control by means of supplying more or less air under pressure to the inside of the separating wall so that the buoyancy thereof can be varied according to the thickness of the oil layer. For obtaining a quick response to wave action a float is positioned in front of the separating wall and controls the vertical position thereof starting from the adjusted nominal position reached by the remote control by air pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for circulating water in a swimming pool including a strainer that is connected to a swimming pool unfiltered intake with a pump connected to the strainer for pumping water from the strainer to a filter. The filter in turn is connected to a swimming pool filtered return for depositing the filtered water into the swimming pool. The invention includes a valve connected to the pump, strainer and filter for temporarily altering the flow of water from the swimming pool drain to the pump and back through the strainer in a direction that is opposite to the flow of water from the swimming pool drain to a waste drain. A method for cleaning the residue collected by a strainer in a swimming pool water circulation system is also included that also includes altering the flow of water from the swimming pool intake to a pump, in order that the pump may pump water in a direction opposite to the normal flow of water through a strainer to remove particles contained in the strainer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for magnetically separating particles from a liquid, which particles include diamagnetic, non-magnetic and/or very weakly paramagnetic particles. To achieve separation, the magnetic susceptibility of the liquid is modified, such as through dissolving a paramagnetic substance (such as manganese chloride) or a diamagnetic substance (such as bismuth diiodide) in a liquid (such as water, alcohol or glycerine), after which the modified paramagnetic liquid is passed through a filter formed of magnetic material in a magnetic field with the filter being preferably formed of ferromagnetic material establishing a high gradient magnetic filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aquarium filtering system having a pump housing and a filter assembly which is detachably secured to the pump housing for cleaning or replacement. The pump housing includes two conduits which register with and telescopically receive two conduits on the filter assembly as the filter assembly is connected to the pump housing thus fluidly connecting the pump housing and filter assembly together. A yoke is slidably mounted to the pump housing and movable between a locking and unlocking position. In its locking position, the yoke engages two locking tabs on the filter assembly thus mechanically attaching the filter assembly to the pump housing. Conversely, in its unlocking position, the yoke enables the filter assembly to be removed from the pump housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a boom structure in an oil-spill-combatting system. The principle of the apparatus is as follows: from the water craft (2) there extends to each side a boom, and the ends of the collecting rope (4) are secured to the ends of the booms. The oil is recovered from the rope by running the rope (4) through an apparatus (3) which is situated at the aft of the craft (2). The rope is run first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. According to the invention the rope is put into effective use, up to the last meter, by making the booms from two sections (5, 6), of which the outer one (6) turns synchronically with the passage of the rope (4) and brings each rope end alternately next to the recovery apparatus (3).

Abstract: A method for installing a pipeline having a plurality of pipes, including each pipe having at least one handhole in the wall near at least one of its ends, and a threaded cap for closing the handhole, whereby, when a pipe is joined to another pipe by welding, spatters formed at or near the welded joint can be removed by hand through the handhole.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for removing oil from water, comprising a horizontal roller cooperating with a scraper blade as well as a receiving tray, the improvement being that the roller has its upper surface at the level of the water surface and is placed above the receiving tray and that between roller and the suction pump side of the receiving tray a grate has been placed, which cuts the collected oil into dischargeable pieces.

Abstract: A cooking grease collection pot includes inner and outer cylindrical containers. The inner container is made of a heat resistant plastic material and it includes an overlapping portion on which the lid is screwed so that the outer periphery of the lid can be grasped by hand in order to lift and remove the inner container. The inner container includes a screw-on lid and it is provided with a notch in its base for receiving a wedge that projects upwardly from the base of the outer container. The engagement between the notch and wedge prevents relative rotation of the containers to permit the lid for the inner container to be screwed on and off. The inner container may be removed for disposal and includes a strainer.