Abstract: Efficient biological and mechanical and/or chemical filtration or purification of the water in an aquatic life support system is achieved with a submerged device through which a high water flow rate is induced by a generally vertical flow of air through the hollow core of one or a plurality of filtration elements. Each filtration element accommodates a high flow rate (e.g. more than 50 gallons per hour) and can contain a viable colony of nitrifying bacteria. The preferred filtration device comprises a base with a plurality of air inlets and air passageways or conduits to the aforementioned hollow core of each filtration element. The base supports and positions the filtration elements. Increased flow rates can be achieved by affixing a hollow tube or conduit to the upper end of the aforementioned hollow core of a filtration element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shut-off valve assembly for use with a filter carriage where the upper portion of the filter cartridge cooperates with the valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing into and out of the inlet and outlet port of the cartridge once the cartridge is removed from service. Cartridge removal causes the shut-off valve to automatically close fluid flow into and out of the cartridge. A valve abutment member in the shut-off assembly serves to shut off fluid inlet flow and a sealing member on a support member of assembly, serves to seal the shut-off assembly at the fluid inlet port. A ball check mounted in a retainer of assembly is biased in the downward direction during fluid shut-off.

Abstract: A suction device for an oil separation tank mounted on a floating body comprises a liquid piping structure for transporting floating oil from the oil separation tank into a storage tank and a vacuum piping structure for always retaining floating oil in the oil separation tank at a suction state, and may automatically control an intermittent suction operation.

Abstract: A single, horizontally extended cylinder receives in one end a mixture of produced fluids from an oil well. Baffles within the shell control the liquids of the production during pitch and roll to prevent agitation of the separating liquids.

Abstract: A filter cartridge comprises a body of sintered material having a star-shaped profile and a substantially constant wall thickness. The body has a folded or corrugated configuration with the corrugations extending longitudinally parallel to the axis or along a helix or screw-thread pattern. The ribs or corrugations can be symmetrical about axial planes of the body and, in an embodiment of the invention, are parallel thereto.

Abstract: A magnetic filter element comprises a rubber bonded barium ferrite permanent magnet strip enclosed in a thin, liquid impervious, non-magnetic envelope and positioned in a low velocity location in a fluid system to capture magnetically attractable contaminants. The disclosure illustrates various arrangements of the magnet with filter cartridges as well as the construction of the magnet element itself.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating floating pollutants from a body of water. A vessel has an opening in at least one side to define an inlet for the pollutant and the top water layer. There are means within the vessel to impart a whirlpool motion to the admitted pollutant and water in which the pollutant forms a thickened upper layer. A nozzle is positioned at about the center of the means to impart whirlpool motion. The nozzle projects upwardly. A separator is positioned beneath the nozzle whereby floating pollutants can be removed from the top of the separator and water from the bottom of the separator.

Abstract: A filtering system is disclosed for effectively filtering the water of aquariums for tropical or salt-water fish, the water of fish-farming ponds, and/or any other type of fish-farming water. The system includes a filtration tank partitioned into a storage chamber, a filtration chamber, and a discharge chamber, and the fish-farming water is successively passed through the storage and filtration chambers so as to be purified, and is discharged along the water surface by means of a discharge mechanism within the discharge chamber. A lift pipe is provided at one end of the storage chamber, and filters and vacancies are alternately arranged in a parallel manner within the filtration chamber, with an open spaced defined thereabove.

Abstract: A filter comprises an inner rigid metal tube connectable at its opposite ends to the fluid pipe line, and a spaced outer plastic housing enclosing the inner rigid tube. The latter is formed with two groups of holes through its wall, and with a deflector between the groups of holes for deflecting the fluid to flow through one group of holes, the space between the inner tube and the other housing, and the second group of holes. A filter body is disposed in the space between the outer plastic housing and the inner rigid tube.Two embodiments of the invention are described, one being an in-line construction wherein the filter body is coaxial to the inner rigid tube, and the other being an off-line construction wherein the filter body is at right angles to the inner tube.

Abstract: A filter system for swimming pool cleaning machines comprising a filter tank cover secured to the pool cleaner and having a debris trap removably mounted on the rearward end thereof. The debris trap has an inlet end in communication with the water discharge conduit of the swimming pool cleaner. A flexible filter valve is positioned in the debris trap for normally closing the inlet end but which is opened by flow through the water discharge conduit. The discharge end of the debris trap comprises a plurality of spaced-apart ports having vertically disposed baffles positioned therebetween which prevent debris from sealing the openings. The transparent debris trap cover is removably mounted on the rearward end of the debris trap. A pair of filter tanks are removably mounted on the forward end of the filter tank cover and have filters positioned therein. The outlet end of the debris trap is in communication with the interiors of the filter tanks.

Abstract: An improved water intake system with fish control means includes a watercourse through which water is drawn from a body of water containing fish and debris, a fish diversion structure mounted across the watercourse for diverting fish unavoidably sucked therein and fish removal means located at one end of the fish diversion structure for removing the diverted fish from the water in the watercourse for return to the body of water.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for the purification of waste water with the aid of active silt, comprising an open basin or the like with supply and discharge means for the water, in which basin a partition is provided in such a manner that a closed circulating channel is obtained, a rotatable aerator with a vertical axis being mounted in such manner and adapted to be driven in such a sense that on rotation thereof the water is circulated in said closed channel, characterized in that one or more aerator are mounted near an outer wall or a partition of the basin.

Abstract: An oil recovery device having a downwardly and rearwardly traveling oil absorbing belt, to pick up oil on a body of water. The belt travels around an upwardly and forwardly positioned drum to be engaged by a porous squeeze belt to remove the oil from the oil absorbing belt. Rearwardly of the belt is an oil collecting enclosure to collect oil not recovered by the oil absorbing belt. The device has a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bow ramp over which an oil/water liquid passes into a through passage in the device, and water having oil separated therefrom passes out longitudinally spaced bottom openings, with the flow through these openings being controlled by closure doors.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning oil spills which utilizes various components as needed. In one embodiment a floating hull structure is provided having a crane for removing floating debris and a vacuum skimming unit and a pair of storage tanks for skimming and holding oil. Also, containers are provided on a separate boat and can be unloaded at dockside and replaced with fresh containers. Also, a truck unit may be provided which in one embodiment can carry either empty containers or a self-contained vacuum-tank unit.

Abstract: An improved water removal in a filter press used in sludge treatment processes, typically in a sewage plant, is provided through the addition of a pretreatment stage where water is removed to an appreciable extent. The filter press pretreatment system is based upon continuously circulating filter pockets into which flocculant-treated sludge has been added, a significant amount of the water from the thus clarified sludge being removed through the combination of the use of this pretreatment and in this pretreatment using filter pockets of variable volume.

Abstract: In an apparatus for collecting light-weight substance floating on a liquid the light-weight substance is sprayed with the aid of a liquid jet into an accumulator tank in that the light-weight substance lands together with the liquid jet as a downward stream about a lower edge of the open bottom of the tank into said tank.In order to keep the liquid jet effective the disintegration of the liquid jet is prevented. To this end the liquid jet is guided above the layer of light-weight substance along a bar or similar guide means.

Abstract: A tanker ship designed with a bow so to scoop up spilled oil from a surface of a sea; the ship including a doorway at the water level for admitting oil and surface water as the ship moves ahead, and which is pumped into settling tanks from which the water is pumped overboard so that only the oil is collected; the bow having two hinged doors at the bow behind which a rearwardly converging vestibule or scoop having a rear vertical plate with grid-screened ports at all levels, a selected one of which is opened to admit the surface oil.

Abstract: This invention relates to a concentrator for the recovery of a water-immiscible liquid pollutant floating on the surface of a sheet of water, which comprises a duct of flexible material having an inlet orifice with a larger and a small dimension along mutually perpendicular axes for locating with its larger dimension substantially parallel to the surface of the sheet of water, the shape of the duct varying along its length such that at its end remote from the inlet orifice it has a section with a larger and a smaller dimension along mutually perpendicular axes, its larger dimension being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the surface of the sheet of water when the larger dimension of the inlet orifice is parallel to the surface of the sheet of water, and at least one outlet orifice for the outflow of the liquid pollutant from the concentrator, and to systems using such concentrators.

Abstract: An oil recovery apparatus in which oil to be recovered is allowed to pass over the leading weir edge of an oil skimmer mounted transversely across a flotation platform and with the leading weir edge positioned in the region of the center of buoyancy of the flotation platform. Oil passing over the leading weir edge is sucked through a slotted flow equalizing baffle plate mounted within the oil skimmer and removed to a collection location or vessel.

Abstract: An improved blood filter media comprising a woven fabric having a pore size distribution rating of 20 microns and being woven with monofilament yarns in a regular, even-sided twill weave.