초록 ▼

A skimmer/coalescer system includes a skimmer which skims a two-component liquid from the surface of a liquid mixture in a tank, and a pump which pumps the skimmed liquid to a coalescer for separating and collecting a lower density liquid component from the mixture and returning the rest of the liqu

A skimmer/coalescer system includes a skimmer which skims a two-component liquid from the surface of a liquid mixture in a tank, and a pump which pumps the skimmed liquid to a coalescer for separating and collecting a lower density liquid component from the mixture and returning the rest of the liquid to the tank. The skimmer includes a housing submerged below the liquid surface in the tank, an outlet operatively connected to the pump and an intake which supplies liquid to the housing by gravity. The intake includes a vertically movable inlet which remains adjacent the liquid surface regardless of liquid level changes in the tank, thereby to skim near the surface where the lower density liquid dominates, and to enhance skimming efficiency. The skimmer also includes a sensor inside the submerged housing which cooperates with the intake to expand or contract the size of the inlet to increase or decrease in-flow to the housing, respectively, depending on whether the liquid level in the submerged housing is receding or raising. This maintains consistent and continuous liquid flow through the system during operation and minimizes the possibility of pump damage.

대표청구항 ▼

A skimming apparatus for skimming a liquid mixture of at least two liquid components from a tank containing the mixture, comprising: a bracket; a substantially enclosed housing mounted to the bracket to locate the housing in the tank at a vertical position below a normal operating level for the liqu

A skimming apparatus for skimming a liquid mixture of at least two liquid components from a tank containing the mixture, comprising: a bracket; a substantially enclosed housing mounted to the bracket to locate the housing in the tank at a vertical position below a normal operating level for the liquid mixture contained therein; an outlet tube secured to the housing and having a bottom end extending into the housing, the outlet tube adapted to convey liquid outwardly from the housing via the bottom end; an intake structure secured to the housing, the intake structure having an upper end which floatably adjusts with respect to the level of the liquid mixture in the tank to gravitationally convey liquid into the housing via an inlet located adjacent the upper end; and a mechanical sensor located in the housing and operatively connected to the intake structure to vary the size of the inlet depending on the depth of liquid in the housing, thereby to maintain a liquid level in the housing above the bottom end of the outlet tube.