Abstract: A weir-type skimmer employing a wave diffuser for efficiently collecting an immiscible liquid from the surface of a body of higher density liquid in turbulent waters, including in combination: a floating containment boom having a wave diffuser disposed therein and a catch basin coupled therewith; a catch basin having a self-adjusting weir for regulating the flow of liquid therein; a water pump for removing and discharging water from the catch basin to the interior of the floating containment boom, forward of the wave diffuser; and an oil pump coupled with a skimming head for removing oil from the catch basin.

Abstract: A spa or bath is disclosed having a molded shell with a filter cavity molded therein, the cavity being proportioned and arranged to receive a filter, and the cavity further being open inwardly and upwardly of the shell, thereby simplifying removal and insertion of the filter.

Abstract: The invention provides for surface cleaning of wire rod and the like by holding the wire under tension while passed through a die system and vibrating the wire transversely so that it is abraded by the die surface. Cleaning liquid flushes the die bore.

Abstract: Filter backwash water saver and water filter to clean swimming pool filters which takes backwashed water from a filter which is usually discharged to the environment and instead filters the backwashed water and returns it to the system. This conserves water and protects the environment. The backwashed water is pumped into a filter contained in a canister which is suspended by a bracket which mounts to the pool cowling. The filtered backwash water is returned to the system by a specially designed chute which fits into the pool skimmer. A vinyl check valve is mounted into the chute to allow water to flow normally when the pool system is forward pumping by allowing the water to flow into the skimmer under the vinyl check valve. When backwashing is desired, the weight of the backwashed water flattens the vinyl check valve and only backwashed water recirculates. The filter material is easily accessible and easy to change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enable cleaning of gripper assemblies wherein the grippers are enclosed by a containment structure and cleaned by a liquid spray.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filtering apparatus for use in a material treating system of the type in which treating fluid is recirculated through a treating vessel. The apparatus includes a filtering chamber through which treating fluid flows from a pump to a heat exchanger. A cylindrical perforated filter element in the chamber filters particulate contaminant, such as lint in a textile processing system, onto the element, and a reciprocating cleaning member cleans the contaminant from the surface of the filter element by drawing fluid through an annular slot in a head of the cleaning member, with the fluid being drawn across and through the filter element to remove contaminant therefrom. The contaminant containing fluid is conveyed from the cleaning member back into the treating vessel where it is discharged into a large fabric bag that allows the fluid to filter through into the vessel and obstructs the contaminant for collection in the bag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for suctioning and collecting flotage on the water surface. The apparatus consists of a water guide passage to collect surface flotage, a guide plate floating below the water surface in said water guide passage, a rearward facing means to eject a pressurized water current, and an additional means similarly ejecting a pressurized water current to check and suppress currents which hinder the effect of the water flowing in said water guide passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning debris from the interior surfaces of two flowlines, particularly dissimilar sized flowlines, utilizes a crossover flowline, crossover valve, and two bypass flowlines and bypass valves, wherein the bypass flowlines communicate between a respective flowline and the crossover flowline.

Abstract: Environmentally harmful liquid or solid materials, especially crude oil of offshore oil fields in mudland and shallow-water regions are loaded and transferred in an environmentally safe manner in lockable basins. For performing the method according to the invention there are provided artificial islands including one or a plurality of basins lockable with barrier means, said basins being in particular equipped with counter-current systems and cleaning equipment. These artificial islands may at the same time be used for crude oil recovery, treatment, storing and processing of the offshore oil fields.

Abstract: A method and device for filtering a suspension (14), for example of yeast or other plant cell material, on a rotary vacuum filter (10), beneath which a trough (4) containing the suspension (14) is located. In order to improve the balance between dipping zone and drying zone, according to the invention a take-off knife (1) for taking off the filter cake (8) resulting from the filtering is attached to the trough (4). The level of the suspension (14) is maintained constant, and the trough (4) is moved by means of a feeding device (7) to the center of the drum (12) of the vacuum filter (10) while the drum is rotating.

Abstract: A food chopper pump is connected by a conduit to an outlet opening at the bottom of a frying well which contains cooking oil used in the frying of various foods. The chopper pump contains a motor-driven rotor having a plurality of radially movable vanes spaced about the periphery which chop large food particles entering the chopper pump from the frying well. The rotor is mounted eccentrically, whereby the vanes are movable radially inwardly to prevent large food particles from stopping the motor in one portion of the pump yet which provides a sealing effect when moving through another portion of the chopper pump. The comminuted food particles and oil pass through a coarse filter which removes most of the food particles from the oil before passing through a fine filter which removes any smaller remaining food particles, after which the filtered oil is returned to the frying well. A valved bypass line enables the system to continue to operate during the replacement of the filters.

Abstract: A pool skimmer, such as may be used to remove leaves, grass and insects that are on the surface of a swimming pool, or the like, consists of a pair of floats separated by an oblong open framework on which the open end of a net is mounted. The floats are longitudinal members having their respective ends tapered so that the device may be passed over such things as vacuum hoses, and the like, commonly found in a swimming pool, having vertical indentations forming receiving indentations to receive the end members of the framework and having horizontal passageways extending through said indentations to receive anchoring means for maintaining said end members in said grooves.The floats will maintain the bottom of the net opening submerged at the proper depth, and a harness attached to the forward ends of the floats and to one end of a pole, provide means for drawing the device over the surface of the water as desired.

Abstract: A chlorine injector for treatment of effluent includes apparatus which provides two separate vacuum forces that supplement each other to create sufficient vacuum force to draw chlorine from a chlorine tank and inject it into a sewage effluent tank for treatment of the effluent therein. The apparatus includes a water chamber positioned above the surface of the effluent, an airlift tube extending from the water chamber having its intake end submerged in the effluent and its discharge end inside of the water chamber at the upper portion thereof, an overflow return pipe extending from the water chamber to return excess effluent to the tank, and the chlorine injection assembly having the double vacuum means comprising a first eductor nozzle leading from the bottom of the water chamber to discharge into a second induction nozzle having a flared intake end, creating a first vacuum at this point by the venturi effect.

Abstract: The invention provides for a skimmer (10) interconnected to the floating roof (30) of a floating roof tank (300) wherein a mixture of at least two immiscible liquids, including a lowest specific gravity liquid (50) and at least one higher specific gravity liquid (40), are stored. The skimmer (10) of the present invention is placed on the underside (20) of the floating roof (30). A funnel (140) is attached to the underside (20) of the roof (30) to extend downwardly into the liquid mixture wherein the funnel (140) has formed perforations (500) near the attachment of the funnel (140) to the underside (20) of the roof (30). A float (110) is operatively connected to the funnel (140) and selectively closes over the perforations (500) when the float (110) is in the higher specific gravity liquids (40) and opens over the perforations when the float (110) is disposed in the lowest specific gravity liquid (50 ).

Abstract: An oil spill recovery method and apparatus is disclosed. The method of recovery involves the pumping of an oil/water mixture from a concentration area to the submerged portion of a vertically oriented cylinder, open at both ends, and the separation of the oil from the water in the cylinder. Oil floats to and accumulates on the surface of the water in the cylinder and uncontaminated water flows out through the lower open end of the cylinder. The apparatus includes a collection unit which defines the concentration area within three walls thereof, a recovery unit which follows the collection unit and mounts the cylinder therein, and a submerged pumping unit which carries an oil/water mixture from the concentration area in the collection unit to the cylinder in the recovery unit. There is very little emulsification of the oil in the cylinder and hence there is very efficient separation of the oil from the water.

Abstract: An apparatus for the magnetic treatment of liquid containing suspended solids and colloidal particles and dissolved minerals and calcareous materials comprises an inner cylindrical non-ferrous housing adapted to support a plurality of bar magnets therein and an outer cylindrical housing of ferromagnetic material. The inner cylindrical housing is spaced concentrically relative to the outer cylindrical housing by cruciform supports and by a plurality of baffles arranged oppositely and offset from each other. The ends of the inner cylindrical housing are open and supported by the cruciform members and apertures in the housing inward of the ends thereof permit liquid to flow into the space between the cylindrical outer and inner housings. The baffles also serve to cause turbulence and spiral flow motion of liquid between the inner and outer cylindrical housings. The spiral flow motion is imparted to the liquid by staggering the baffles 90.degree. until they complete a 360.degree. turn about the core.

Abstract: A water purification system for use with a pool or the like in which a small quantity of water can be continually withdrawn from the pool for recycling. The system involves the use of silver impregnated activated charcoal granules as a combination filter and antimicrobial agent such that the need for chlorine and other conventional chemical treatment of the pool is eliminated or vastly diminished. A small portion of the water being recycled is diverted and so treated with the silver impregnated activated charcoal such that small amounts of silver ions are released into the water such that the silver concentration in the pool is maintained at a level effective to kill essentially all bacteria present therein.

Abstract: Skimmer apparatus for swimming pools and the like having a receptacle in which a skimmer basket is fitted. The receptacle provides a chamber into which pool water flows through the skimmer. Water is caused to flow into and through the receptacle by a connection within the receptacle to the makup water inlet of the pool. The inlet water discharging into the pool through the chamber of the receptacle and the flow of the water by an ejector effect causing flow through the receptacle thereby causing a substantial amount of the pool water to be recirculated through the receptacle although it is not recirculated through the conventional pool suction pump and inlet which operates to supply the inlet water pressure for activating the skimmer apparatus.

Abstract: A device which is for reclaiming oil from a body of water and which is mounted on a floating vehicle, including a dispersal mechanism to spread ferromagnetic particles in the oil, a collection apparatus connected to a vacuum chamber, and a pulsating magnetic field for drawing oil impregnated with ferromagnetic particles toward the collection apparatus. The oil-particle mixture is separated in the hold of the floating vehicle.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning apparatus comprising a quick connect-disconnect handle, an ovate frame, a collecting net structure with an inner and outer section, and a blade-like edge on the forward portion of the frame. The collecting net structure contains an open inner net contained in a closed outer net; the inner net allows easy ingress of debris into the outer net while retarding its escape if the direction of net motion is reversed. The blade-like edge of moderately flexible material attached to the front of the net increases the efficiency of collection of debris close to the bottom walls of the pool. Construction of the apparatus is modular and allows easy replacement of worn parts without discarding serviceable parts; repairs can be made without the use of tools. The ease of assembly and disassembly allows the net to be stored and shipped in a disassembled state and is reflected in reduced handling costs.