Abstract: An apparatus for recovering fluid substances floating on a water surface or the like, and consisting of two symmetrical floating bodies connected by means of walls which form between them a longitudinal channel which is closed at its rear end by a transversal wall. The apparatus has a bottom wall which, beginning from a front weir sill positioned near the waterline, at first descends with a small slope and then slopes down rapidly so as to form the bottom of a calm basin which also extends backwardly beyond the floating bodies, said weir sill being wider than the distance between the outer side walls of the floating bodies. A chamber is provided behind the rear wall of the basin and communicates with the basin, through an orifice arranged in the wall near the bottom. The chamber also communicates with a conduit in which is mounted a propeller which rotates at an adjustable speed.

Abstract: A cistern or aquarium for fish inhabitation effects natural purification and plankton cultivation so as to imitate natural ocean systems. Water is made to rotate in the cistern, and water is drawn off for sand filtration and purification from upper and lower central positions of the cistern. The filtered water is passed through a sterilization bath including a sand layer containing plankton cultivation germ before being returned to the cistern. The invention eliminates the need of periodic water exchange in aquarium systems.

Abstract: The invention comprises a trap for use in a fluid conduit in which foreign solid material may occasionally be carried by the fluid. The trap has a duct-like body, preferably of similar cross-sectional area to the conduit in which it will be installed. A foraminous strainer is located transversely across the body to remove solid material. A cleanout port is located in the duct wall immediately upstream from the foraminous strainer. This can be opened to allow access to the strainer so that any retained solid material can be easily removed. The cleanout port has a self-hinged door with edges bent to provide a light clamping action against the body to retain the door in a normally closed position. The clamping force can be readily adjusted so that the door is opened by the head of liquid retained in the conduit if the strainer becomes plugged by retained solids.

Abstract: A paint spray booth including water wash means for removing airborne paint particles from air flowing through the booth. A holding tank at the bottom of the booth collects the water from the water wash means and a pump recirculates the water from the holding tank to the water wash means near the top of the booth. A filtering tank is connected to the holding tank and is located outside the booth. A pair of filters are disposed in series in the filtering tank and filter the water as it passes from the holding tank to the pump. The filters are individually removable from the filter tank for cleaning and/or replacement so that when one filter becomes clogged, it can be removed and cleaned while the other filter continues the filtering process so that there is no interruption in use of the spray booth.

Abstract: Surface active compositions for dispersing oil slicks consisting essentially of specified proportions of a fatty acid sorbitan monoester, a polyalkyleneoxide adduct of a fatty acid sorbitan monoester, an aqueous solution of a dialkylsulfosuccinate salt, a glycol monoether and water and a method for dispersing an oil slick on water comprising applying a surface active composition of the above-described type to the surface of the oil slick.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus to be used in open water for removing an oil layer by towing a generally V-shaped and floating catching means (1, 2, 3) through the water, one arm (3) consisting of a barge comprising a driven pump (13) for sucking the oil collected near the apex of the catching means (2, 3) and for discharging this oil/water mixture into the barge; the water collecting near the bottom of the barge (2) is removed until the barge is mainly filled with oil; hereafter the filled barge is substituted by an empty one and the sweeping action may be continued.

Abstract: To separate a small alga such as Dunaliella from a containing liquid, a filter substrate is provided with a surface coat including a large alga such as Spirulina. The Dunaliella and some liquid are run through the Spirulina and the substrate and so are separated with some Spirulina content.

Abstract: Separating domestic waste water for aerobic filtration of black water and subsequently combining the filtration with grey water provides a convenient source of carbon and anaerobic matter for biological dentrification of nitrates in a filtration system of anaerobic atmosphere achieved biologically through normal decomposition. Improved filter means for the black water includes alternating layers of stone and sand, the latter being well ventilated to maintain at least slight acidity (pH=4).

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: A positive buoyancy programmed motion pool cleaning device is adapted for operation under a floating pool cover. The pool cleaning device is given positive buoyancy with floats fore and aft, both floats being adapted to provide positive buoyancy towards the pool cover while riding on an upper water bearing against the under surface of the pool cover. In this adaptation each float defines a concavity having a circumscribing annulus. At the interior of the concavity there is an outlet of a high volume, low pressure jet pump. Typically the high volume, low pressure jet pump includes a low volume, high pressure jet entraining and expanding water flow from beneath the floats through and elongate tube up, to, and discharging within the concavity. Preferably, the concavity and pump outlet are arranged with the pump outlet somewhat off center of the annulus walls so that pool cover plugging of the pump outlet does not occur. In operation, the concavity forms a water bearing pressure pocket.

Abstract: Bitumen, floating on tailings pond water in the form of a cohesive blanket, is recovered from the surface by an apparatus that takes advantage of the cohesiveness of the bitumen. A drum with radially attached prongs is partly submerged in the water and is rotated around its longitudinal axis so that the prongs penetrate into the bitumen blanket and grip and pull it towards the drum. Upon being drawn by the prongs beneath the surface of the water, hydrostatic pressure causes the bitumen to adhere to the curved surface of the drum. During the upswing of the drum, the prongs and the adhesiveness of the metal surface of the drum hold the bitumen on the drum. A comb scraper then removes the greater portion of the bitumen, which falls into a receptacle.

Abstract: An improved combination pool skimmer is disclosed which may be adapted to provide surface water skimming, or subsurface water sweeping or vacuuming of a swimming pool. The skimmer has a body including a throat for entry of water into the skimmer and a well located below and communicating with the throat. The skimmer has a single relocatable cover plate adapted to be located in the well of the skimmer to cover the skimmer pump outlet port. The well has a peripheral shoulder adjacent to the throat on which a removable strainer basket is supported. The strainer basket has an annular ring or flange which is disposed on this shoulder for this purpose. The cover plate may be supported on the basket annular ring to cover the basket and control entry of water into the well. A snap-in hinged weir and a snap-in hinged equalizer flap valve are provided in the skimmer which are not subject to corrosive decay by pool chemicals.

Abstract: An insulating jacket for an in situs filter cartridge of the type normally employed in filtering oil circulating through a pressurized system of an internal combustion engine. The invention is characterized by an elongated open end cylindrical shell fabricated from an insulating material, such as cellular polystyrene, with the shell adapted to enclose the filter cartridge within an insulating sealed air space.

Abstract: A filter for diesel fuel, with the filter including a filter housing surrounding a filter pack. The filter housing is of a double shell construction and an interspace is provided between the two housing shells. The interspace is tightly sealed all around to an exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A method for removing leaves, pieces of bark, surface scum and debris from a swimming pool, fountain or other impounded body of water comprises forming on the surface of the water in the pool an approximately monomolecular film of a nonionic autophobic liquid organic material having an HLB number of 10 of less, a boiling point of 170.degree. C. or higher and a bulk viscosity less than 1000 centistokes under conditions of use, which film pushes leaves, solids, semisolids, surface scum and debris to a preselected region of the pool, fountain or impounded body of water and compacts the foreign matter for easy removal.

Abstract: An arrangement for floatation of solid particles from liquids such as from sewage, particularly for settling of coal from a conditioned pulp, has a conditioning device from which a pulp flows in a predetermined direction, gasifying device having a gasifying surface extending parallel to the pulp flow direction, and a separating device having a substantially upright conical container for foam formation, a level controlling element, and bubble generator composed of an elastic and porous synthetic plastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for final clearing of waste water in a settling tank includes an inverted conical collecting basin having openings in the walls thereof. An annular air chamber encircles and is attached to the upper edge of the basin and floats in the waste water. Waste water enters the collecting basin through the openings therein and sludge in the water settles to the bottom of the basin. The cleared water at the top of the basin flows into an overflow receptacle and is removed therefrom by a pipeline. The sludge at the bottom of the basin is conveyed upwardly by a conveying device through a conveying pipe to a collecting receptacle and is removed therefrom by a pipeline.

Abstract: An aeration device for introducing air into a pool of water. The device basically comprises a cylindrically shaped main body portion and a retaining ring for pivotally securing a generally spherically shaped water direction spout within a portion of the main body. The main body has a hollow interior. One end of the main body terminates in a threaded portion adapted to be received in a conventional water supply port found in the wall of the pool. A tube has one end in fluid communication with the spout and the other end exposed to ambient air. As water passes from the water supply port through the water direction spout, a suction is created, drawing air through the tube and into the flow stream of the water for introduction into the pool.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing drinking water from bacteria contaminated cold water is provided. The cold contaminated water is placed into a flexible collector having a sub-micron porous filter in the bottom. When the flexible collector is squeezed, the pressure forces the contaminated water through the filter and into a holding chamber. The drinkable filtered water is removed from the holding chamber through a sterile exit opening.

Abstract: A method for filtering and discharging waste water from a septic tank in predetermined increments and preventing passage of suspended solids from the tank while resisting blockage of the fluid discharge apparatus by such solids. A removable fluid discharge device, such as a submersible pump or dosing siphon with a trigger trap, is enclosed within an encircling filter element which is similarly encircled by a protective housing, and the entire assembly is located within a septic tank immersed in waste water. The protective housing is impervious to the passage of waste water into its interior except through apertures located in the vertical sidewalls so situated as to allow water from only the clearest layer within the tank to enter into the housing and contact the filter. Functionally, the housing protects the filter from blockage by the high concentration of solids present in the layers above and below the clearest layer.