Abstract: A magnetic settler filter comprising a magnet plate disposed in a lower portion of a liquid tank. Liquid containing magnetic powder is caused to flow into the tank and along the underside of the magnet plate, and then it flows along the upper surface of the magnet plate. The magnetic powder is attracted to the upper and lower surface of the magnet plate and is collected by a scraper and fed outside the tank.

Abstract: A device for the magnetic treatment of water and other liquids, having a pair of concentric tubular casings which are spaced from each other so as to form an annular treatment chamber. The inner casing contains an elongated magnet having two or more longitudinally spaced poles, and the outer casing is made of a magnetic material which serves to concentrate the magnetic lines of force within the annular chamber. The inner casing is supported within the outer casing by means of elastic, non-magnetic sleeves which are positioned over opposite ends of the inner casing and compressed between it and the inner surface of the outer casing so that the treatment chamber is rendered fluid-tight and the inner casing and magnet are prevented from shifting longitudinally with respect to the outer casing.

Abstract: A rotary disc vacuum filter includes detachably-mounted conduits rotating with a trunnion to provide flow communication between disc-shaped filter elements mounted on the trunnion and a valve applying suction to the filter elements. The rotary disc vacuum filter further includes ferrules for mounting the disc-shaped filter elements to the trunnion.

Abstract: A filtration and purification apparatus for use in water lines of both domestic and industrial applications, wherein water must be purified and filtered prior to use--particularly with respect to human consumption thereof. The filter/purifier comprises a housing having an inlet port which discharges into a filter chamber, wherein the incoming water passes through a filter member into an adjacent metering compartment which controls the flow of water both through an outlet port and a communicating purifying chamber, the purifying chamber including a predetermined amount of iodine crystals stored therein.

Abstract: A process and plant for hydromechanical recovery of a fluid spread in a thin layer on the surface of a liquid in which predetermined portions of the liquid and superimposed fluid are successively partitioned off, enclosed in a cell of variable cross section and each portion is progressively restricted in volume by reducing the cross-sectional area of the cell to increase the thickness of the layer of contaminant fluid which is then removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for separating heavy impurities from feed stock. Feed stock is introduced into a first classifying zone defined by a chamber, usually circular in cross-section. The feed stock is normally liquid being made up of stock suspensions of up to 10% A.D. (air dried) consistency. This feed stock contains heavy impurities in the form of trash such as rocks, sand and the like. The feed stock enters the first zone tangentially where an outer vortex flow is generated. Where the apparatus is intended to pass (and not reject) knots in the feed stock, dilution water may be introduced tangentially in the same direction as the feed stock to control knot rejection. The impurities are subjected to a primary classifying action here, and clarified stock is extracted as central, upwardly rising vortex flow. The impurities form an outer layer which passes from the bottom of the first zone into a second zone.

Abstract: A system for storing and handling used cooking oils and the like comprises a dump station located adjacent to the kitchen facility in a restuarant for receiving and feeding the used cooking oils through a fill pipe into a remotely located, closed storage container. Heating tubes passing through the fill pipe and the storage container maintain the liquidity of the used cooking oil while moving through the fill pipe and while stored in the container. A pump and control unit is co-located with the storage container for monitoring the temperature of the used oil in the container, and for detecting when the container is filled with the oil so as to provide an indication in the restaurant so that a pump may be energized to thereafter evacuate the storage container.

Abstract: An undergravel aquarium filter having a housing assembly which can be positioned on an aquarium tank floor underneath the gravel bed and forms a water compartment between the housing and the floor. The housing assembly includes separable inner and outer sections in fluid flow communication with each other. An upwardly extending enclosure formed on the inner section includes air inlet and outlet members. An air stream supply is provided through the inlet member to a mixing chamber within the enclosure, thereby causing water from the tank to enter the water compartment after passing through the gravel bed, and therefrom the water and air can egress through the outlet member. Seats formed in the housing assembly can accommodate the feet supporting an air pump, whereby the air pump can be easily positioned on the housing assembly during packaging. A groove formed between the inner and outer sections accommodates passage therethrough of the pump line cord during storage of the line cord within the inner section.

Abstract: Apparatus for augmenting or facilitating flushing of impurities collected by a porous ferromagnetic matrix. The matrix is contained in a canister, through which an aqueous clay slurry is flowed as an applied field magnetizes the matrix to enable attraction of the discoloring magnetics. The periodic flushing of the matrix is rendered of increased efficacy, by applying auxiliary mechanical forces to dislodge the magnetics; or other disclosed means and methods may be used to facilitate the flushing operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for collecting oil floating on a sea surface. This is by a collecting panel and tube with the force of waves pusing oil mixed with water and dirt under some conditions, causing the oil to flow into said panel and tube automatically. The tube leads the oil to a container under sea level wherein the said oil and water can be separated and filtered, and then pure oil is pumped to a nearby ship for storage. Thus, not only pollution will be avoided but also the lost oil can be collected and reused.

Abstract: A skimmer is provided for removing oil spilled on the surface of a body of water. The skimmer has a hull which is submersible in the water and a coupler on the nose of the hull for coupling the skimmer to a towing vehicle. A surge tank is located within the hull for receiving oil and water skimmed from the surface. A funnel positioned on top of the skimmer and extending through the hull has an inlet end positionable in the spilled oil and an outlet end extending into the surge tank. In one embodiment the inlet end comprises a pivotable head that is held level with the surface of the liquid by an attached float. A conveyor within the funnel controls the flow of oil and water into the surge tank. A sensor at the funnel inlet controls a hydraulic jack located between the funnel and the hull to position the inlet in the oil on the water's surface. A conduit is provided between the surge tank and a conduit coupler on the rear of the hull for use in pumping oil out of the surge tank and into an outside conduit.

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 barier 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 apparatus separates grease from a waste effluent containing a grease and water mixture prior to disposing of the effluent in a sanitary sewage system. A separator tank receives and holds the effluent while the mixture separates into an upper grease fraction and a lower water fraction. A means is provided for introducing the effluent into the tank either periodically or directly from the source of the effluent. A withdrawal means is associated with the tank for withdrawing at least a portion of the water fraction from the tank means when the effluent in the tank means reaches a first predetermined level. The withdrawal means stop withdrawing the water fraction from the separator tank when the effluent in the tank reaches a second predetermined level lower than the first predetermined level. The grease can be stored in th separator tank itself or can be transferred to a separate storage tank.

Abstract: An aeration and filtration pump for aquariums, including a housing formed with openings through which the aerated and filtered air can return to the aquarium tank, and an impeller enclosure member positioned within the housing. The impeller enclosure member includes an intermediate portion and an upper portion formed with spaced openings, with a screw impeller being positioned within said intermediate region of said enclosure member for impelling water upwardly within said member. Air impeller means are mounted above the screw imepller and force air drawn into said housing downwardly form aerating the water impelled upwardly by the screw impeller. Water is admitted to the bottom of the unit, and filter material is positioned between the converter member and the housing, with the aerated water passing through the filter material and the openings in the housing wall for return to the tank.

Abstract: A device for discharging floating material from a supernatant layer floating on a carrier liquid in which the discharged material is moved along a discharge surface to an overflow. The device includes a carrier positioned above the supernatant layer. Blades are secured to the carrier for immersion in the supernatant layer in moving the layer toward the overflow. Means are further provided to move the carrier such that the blades supported by the carrier undergo movement through a trajectory with the trajectory of each blade or group of blades encompassing only a portion of the total displacement of the floating material by the movement of the carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel and improved magnetic separator or filter, as well as an apparatus for making such a magnetic separator. Each filter cell comprises a base plate and a plurality of fibrous filter elements made of magnetizable material and secured to the base plate. The filter elements extend in a mutually parallel spaced relation and substantially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the fluid and to the plane of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Apparatus for shielding the skimmer mouth in the wall of a swimming pool to prevent the introduction of floating debris from the water surface through the skimmer mouth into the existing water filtration system of the swimming pool. The skimmer shield apparatus comprises a rigid wire support frame from which a formaminous baffle is supported shielding the entrance to the skimmer mouth. Also supported from the support frame is a preferably foraminous receptacle disposed beneath the baffle for receiving and collecting waterlogged floating debris engaged by the baffle to facilitate removal of such debris from the pool.

Abstract: A rake-like structure is suspended near the surface of circulating liquid sewage in an open-top treatment tank to snare and retain rags and similar debris, enabling periodic removal and separate disposal of the debris, thereby preventing contaminated flow in valves and passages of the treating system and assuring a relatively clean liquid sludge as a product of the treatment process for use as fertilizer on open land. An endless conveyor arrangement is provided to automatically pick up collected debris from a modified form of the rake-like structure and transport it to a location outside the treatment tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trashrack installation for liquid borne trash, the installation having trash collecting rack rods and a rack cleaner mechanism for cleaning the rack rods and which includes a toothed comb mounted on a tilting mechanism and pivotable between a cleaning position and a free position. The tilting mechanism is mounted pivotably on a carrier which can be moved by means of a conveyor mechanism along a guiding device, tilting of the tilting mechanism relative to the carrier being actuated by movement of the conveyor mechanism and the guiding device being arranged remote from the rack rods through which the liquid flows. The carrier includes a brake mechanism, the braking force of which is sufficient to prevent movement of the carrier under gravity, but which is insufficient to prevent the conveyor mechanism moving the carrier either in a direction for cleaning or in a return direction.

Abstract: A liquid filtration system for separating contaminants from liquids such as coolants used in maching operations. The invention provides the following: (a) filtration apparatus wherein filtered liquid may be withdrawn at a substantially constant rate from a chamber, although supplied thereto at a variable rate, by means of a level-responsive throttling valve in the line to the vacuum pump; (b) the invention is concerned with filtration apparatus employing parallel endless chains with transverse flights which support and transport a strip of filter material in such a way that the length remains constant (i.e.