Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a floating fence, which offers as feeble flow resistance as possible and by means of which the impurities, which shall be collected, are in an efficient manner guided into the same with the smallest possible spillage. The floating fence designed according to the invention comprises an impermeable wall intersecting the water surface and a net section, the upper longitudinal portion of which is on the lee side attached to the impermeable wall near to the water surface, its other longitudinal edge portion being carried at a level below and at a distance from the lower longitudinal edge portion of the impermeable wall. The impermeable wall is carried by float bodies and is at its bottom edge portion of the net section and the upper portion of the impermeable wall in the longitudinal direction of the fence traversed by towing or anchoring cables.

Abstract: A versatile filter structure adaptable for use in differently ported configurations includes accommodation for variations of bypass and shutoff valving and for filter element replacement from either end or centrally of the structure. A head casting is secured to a tubular housing and either may be the mounting device for the filter. A funnel shaped diverter having an oblique edge is removably mounted in the head casting and provides separation between inlet and outlet portions of the filter structure by means of an eliptical O-ring seal at the edge which engages the interior of the head casting. The diverter provides a smooth transition for fluid flow to the interior of the filter, supports one end of the filter element in the tubular housing, optionally houses a shutoff valve operative automatically upon filter element removal, and further houses a bypass valve for safeguarding against filter element blockage.

Abstract: A filter unit comprises an outer casing defining a vertical-axis first chamber having a liquid inlet and a normally-closed discharge valve at its lower end and a second chamber defined by upper and lower end walls, a perforated cylindrical wall located within the first chamber and covered by a filter element and a non-perforated cylindrical wall having a lower portion coaxial with, and within the perforated wall and an upper portion projecting above the first chamber and having an outlet for liquid filtered through the filter element. A piston is slidable within the non-perforated wall to force liquid through the filter element to cleanse the latter when it becomes clogged, the piston being connected to open the discharge valve to discharge the particle-containing liquid from the first chamber. A non-return valve in a duct connected to the outlet allows air into the space above the piston to facilitate its descent.

Abstract: A filter for use within a storm drain sump which has a fluid outlet through a wall of the sump, the filter includes a bag-like body member having a cylindrical body portion fabricated from resilient mesh-like synthetic material. A base portion of the filter defines a toroid-shaped section. A weighted material is placed within the toroid-shaped section. Wedge-shaped spacers are axially aligned and secured to an outer face of the cylindrical body portion of the filter. A suspension plate is secured to the body member to support the filter in the storm drain sump.

Abstract: A beach for the scum trough of a sewage settling tank or the like is biased to an upright position by a weighted member or the like so as to prevent the flow of liquid over the beach and into the scum trough. The construction of the beach allows it to be rotated against this bias to a second position below the level of liquid in the settling tank, so as to permit scum and other floating materials accumulated adjacent the beach to flow over the beach and into the scum trough.

Abstract: A slide-plate filter apparatus particularly for plastic stock under pressure in which rigid filter plate sections carrying corresponding sections of filter media are fed in a continuing sequence across the flow path of the plastic stock is provided with off-set retainer plates for directing plastic stock which is forced between the filter plate sections into a path which includes filter media, so that no unfiltered plastic stock can pass through the apparatus.

Abstract: A filtration system, especially for use in aquaria has a lower or first chamber, a middle or second chamber and an upper or third chamber with an interconnecting valve to provide fluid communication therebetween. A microfilter is disposed between the first and second chambers. The upper or third chamber may be divided into two separate parts; one of which parts forms a gravel filter, and the other of which parts forms a pump conduit between the valve and an outlet of the system for connection to a suction pump. Alternatively, a separate pump conduit may be used.

Abstract: An oil recovery apparatus and method, particularly for removing oil and grease from the discharge of dishwashing machines or the like, provides a small size assembly employing the same principle as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,024. This apparatus and method employs single rotating discs of plastic or plastic coated material and each disk has a pair of scraper blades arranged to scrape opposite sides of the rotating blade. Exterior of the container for the oil recovery apparatus is at least one filter basket adapted to receive the flow into the strainer container of large particles of food and other waste such as cigarette butts and the like. Each filter is disposed for the ready cleaning of accumulated matter from the basket. There is shown plural filters, valve controlls, auxiliary heating and disc support means to be more fully described.

Abstract: Equipment for continuously separating foreign matters from unpurified liquid papermaking materials. Cyclone separators are disposed radially around and equidistantly from a central structure. Each of these cyclone separators has a chamber for collecting purified liquid papermaking materials, a cyclone chamber for separating liquid papermaking materials, and a cyclone vortex chamber for separating heavy foreign matter further into relatively light foreign matter and relatively heavy foreign matter, these chambers being disposed in this order from above. The central structure is partitioned into intermediate chambers. Main pipes enter respective intermediate chambers which are connected by brach pipes to the chambers of all the cyclone separators. Secondary cyclone separators, about the same in construction as the cyclone separators, receive the above-mentioned relatively heavy foreign matter and separate them again.

Abstract: A filter element including a perforated tubular member for supporting a filter medium, a tubular distributor core concentrically located within the support member and having a plurality of apertures in the core wall, and a plurality of dividers positioned around the tubular distributor core to prevent the unimpeded flow of liquid through the annular space between the support member and the distributor core and to provide a plurality of annular chambers between the core and the support member. The dividers are located so that the ratio of the flow of liquid through the apertures into an annular chamber to the area of the support member served by the annular chamber is the same for all chambers. In an alternative embodiment the diameter of the apertures is varied along the length of the filter element to assist in distributing the flow of liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for collecting the surface layer of a body of liquid, e.g. a layer of oil on water comprises a first member defining a central passage which is upwardly open and is arranged in use with the opening at the level of the interface between the surface layer of liquid and the underlying layer, and a second member which defines with the first member an annular passage surrounding the central passage and provided with vanes which form the rotor of an axial pump when the two members are rotated about the axis of the central passage. This rotation causes the layer of liquid underlying the surface layer to be drawn towards the apparatus and downwardly through the annular passage to draw the surface layer of liquid into the central passage. Liquid in the central passage is pumped therefrom to a reservoir.

Abstract: The specification discloses a bar screen in combination with apparatus adapted to clean the same by inserting a rake between the bar screen and moving the rake upward. The bar screen comprises a plurality of bar members each having a base component adapted for securement to the bed of the waste waterway and an upright component integrally attached to the base component to form an approximate "L" shaped bar member. The bar members are sized and spaced apart with the base component extending upstream to provide a protected area free of large debris for insertion of the rake means in preparation for the cleaning operation. Such a combination minimizes the possibility of rake damage and increases the cleaning efficiency of the unit.

Abstract: In a rotary drum vacuum filter, the drum sectors are connected by conduits to apertures in a rotary valve member on the drum which is opposed to a fixed valve member. The valve members thus control supply of vacuum (to cause suction filtering) and pressurized gas (to blow the cake of filtered material from the filter) to the drum sectors as the drum rotates. In order to eliminate the time delay between suction and blowing which is needed in order to allow the conduits to purge, another group of conduits is provided, having one-way valves adjacent their connection to the drum surface; this group is used only for blowing. The different groups of conduits are connected to apertures of the rotary valve member at different radial distances from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A collapsible disposable container for dilution and delivery of chemicals for in vivo use which includes a combination adsorbent and absolute filter for effecting sterilization and removal of endotoxins and organic contaminants from a diluent introduced into the container prior to in vivo use thereof. Such combination may be in the container inlet, container outlet or in the main storage portion thereof. Unsterilized diluent can be employed for diluting chemicals in the container.

Abstract: Oil floating on a body of water is collected by moving a shallow-draft water craft, such as a barge, having a sternwardly slanted bow section and below the water line an ingress opening in or near the bow section through an oil slick. One or more preferably rearwardly slanted vanes extend crosswise on the flat bottom section between the water level and the ingress opening. The slant of the bow section increased by the action of the vanes forces oil in its path downwardly thereby causing the oil, possibly intermingled with water, to flow as a flat layer along the bottom of the barge. As the oil reaches the ingress opening it is propelled into a hold of the barge due to the pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the barge. Oil thus accumulating in a hold of the barge may be removed therefrom from time to time and clear water as may also enter the hold is returned to the body of water.

Abstract: A pair of elongated arms are articulated on respective sides of a recovery opening mounted on a barge that carries a settling tank for collecting floating material. The draft of the barge is maintained essentially constant during loading of material ingested through the recovery opening and discharged into the tank whereby the depth of immersion of the recovery opening remains substantially constant. The articulation of the arms is such that they can move in a horizontal direction sweep floating material into the recovery opening. Nozzles may be provided on the arms for creating currents that urge floating material swept by the arms into the recovery opening.

Abstract: An improved filter element for fluid circulating system having unpressurized reservoirs and primarily adapted for removing algae and other fine contaminants from swimming pool water comprising pleated filtration medium arranged in a cylindrical configuration having an open central area, a cap bonded to one end of the filtration medium to close the open central area, an adapter bonded to the opposite end of the filtration medium for connection to a flow source to direct the flow of water into the open central area for passage through the filtration medium in a direction from inside to outside and an outer support member disposed on the exterior of the filtration medium and closed at one end and secured at the other end to the adaptor to restrain the filtration medium.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a drum type vacuum filter having a rotating drum and a porous belt wrapped around and rotating with the drum. Liquid in a slurry carried by the belt is withdrawn through the belt and through grids carried on the drum and openings in the drum surface by a vacuum within the drum. Small particles of solids in the slurry are also drawn through the belt and lodge in and clog the grids and drum surface openings. The cleaning apparatus is positioned in a space formed between the belt and the drum by the travel of the belt from the drum and the return of the belt to the drum. The cleaning apparatus has a spray header movable along the length of the drum and carrying a plurality of nozzles facing the drum surface and grids mounted thereon and is connected to a source of high pressure liquid which is sprayed by the nozzles on the drum openings and grids to clean the solids from them.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an endless belt carrying a plurality of flexible blades the belt being mounted between two end drums above a guideway parallel to the lower side of the belt. The belt is extended at its lower portion by an inlet chute. The bottom of the inlet chute forms a hogback shape hump whose top, intended to be brought beneath the floating layer of material to be recovered, is arranged substantially vertically over the point where the transverse edge of the flexible blades comes into contact with the water sheet. A tendency to back-flow of the polluting material is thus compensated.

Abstract: A rotatable self-cleaning drum shaped filter is partially submerged in a source of water and encloses the inlet of a conduit connected to a ditch pump. A part of the flow of water drawn through the conduit by the ditch pump rotates a water turbine, which turbine is mechanically connected to the drum shaped filter to rotate the drum shaped filter about its longitudinal axis. Simultaneously, a plurality of stationary nozzles forcibly spray a filtering element of the drum shaped filter as the filtering element rotates therepast to remove debris from the filtering element and prevent clogging of the drum shaped filter and water starvation at the inlet to the conduit.