US20250327259A1

US20250327259A1 - Fluid decontamination assembly

Info

Publication number: US20250327259A1
Application number: US19/174,427
Authority: US
Inventors: Jon Jensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-04-22
Filing date: 2025-04-09
Publication date: 2025-10-23

Abstract

A fluid decontamination assembly for separating two fluids includes a receiving vessel and a motor with a drive shaft. A drive wheel is coupled to the drive shaft. A follower wheel is aligned with the drive wheel. A belt couples the drive wheel to the follower wheel wherein the belt forms a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel. An arm extends between the drive wheel and the follower wheel. A pivot assembly pivotably couples the arm to a housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel. The arm extends into a contaminated fluid vessel which holds a first fluid and a second fluid. An elastomeric material of the belt removably adheres to the first fluid to remove of the first fluid from the contaminated fluid vessel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

I hereby claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 63/636,911, filed on Apr. 22, 2024.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to fluid separation device and more particularly pertains to a new fluid separation device for efficiently separating a contaminant from a fluid.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to fluid separation devices, and in particular to fluid skimmers. Fluid skimmers are often used in industrial fluid operations, where a waste fluid, such as oil, contaminates a non-waste fluid, such as a coolant. For example, many industrial machines utilize coolant fluids to facilitate machining and metal cutting operations. Coolants lower the temperature of these machines. In a more specific illustration, coolants may reduce the temperature of a blade or other tool at the point where it is cutting another object. The coolant may also be used to wet the surfaces of the blade and the object being cut, reducing wear on the blade, after which the coolant is drained into a sump.
Moving parts of these machining tools also commonly need to be lubricated with an oil, again reducing wear from friction as these moving parts interact with each other. Oils are also often used to prevent rust from forming on metal stock materials as those stock materials wait to be machined. During the machining process, these lubricating and rust preventative oils mix with the coolant, and the entire mixture is collected in the sump.
The lubricating and rust preventative oils, which collectively are sometimes referred to as “tramp oils,” carry bacteria, yeast, fungus, and mold. Those contaminants reduce the lifetime of the coolant. They can also create smoke and cause other air quality issues during the machining process. Solid debris, such as metal chips and fines from the stock material being processed, can further contaminate the coolant when it is drained into the sump.
Because coolants tend to have relatively high values compared to oils and other waste fluids, it is often desirable to recapture the coolant and separate the coolant from the tramp oils so that the coolant can be recirculated. Recirculating the coolant reduces operating costs, creating a strong financial incentive for manufacturers to decontaminate the coolant rather than simply disposing it.
Various remediation processes are employed to separate the coolant, and other non-waste fluids, from the tramp oils, and other waste. Skimming is a preferred remediation processes when the non-waste fluid has a higher density than the waste fluid, such that gravity helps to separate the non-waste fluid from the waste fluid. If the fluids are left standing in a container for a sufficient amount of time, the waste fluid will form a stratified layer on top of the non-waste fluid. The skimmer drives a belt with an affinity to collect tramp oil through the sump. The belt carries these contaminants out of the sump to a scraper that removes the tramp oil from the belt for collection in a separate container.
The present inventor disclosed some improvements over standard skimmers in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,248,388, 9,849,410, and 10,543,438, all of which are incorporated by reference, in their entireties, into this disclosure. The present disclosure provides further improvements. Through extensive field and laboratory research, the present inventor discovered that the location at which the belt enters and exits the sump can significantly increase the amount of oil which the belt can remove. Because the oil tends to have a lower density than the coolant, the closer the entry and exit points of the belt can be to the upper surface of the fluids within the sump, the more efficiently the belt can separate the fluids. However, as the fluids are deposited into and removed from the sump, the upper surface of the fluids continuously changes position, rising as more coolant is dumped into the sump and falling as the oil is removed. Existing skimming systems are unable to automatically control the position of the entry and exit points of the belt relative to the surface of the fluids.
For example, the belts of previous skimming machines often extend far below the upper surface of the coolant before the belt pulls the oils out of the sump for collection in the separate container. Because such a significant portion of the belt is submerged in coolant, the coolant rinses the oil off of the belt such that the oil is re-mixed with the coolant inside the sump. One existing solution is to use a fixed adjustment for the length of an arm that positions the belt within the sump, allowing a user to periodically reposition the belt relative to the upper surface of the coolant. However, such solutions fail to address the constantly rising and falling levels of the fluids within the sump during the machining process. Thus, there is a need for a skimmer device that automatically adjusts the position of the belt within the sump as the levels of the fluids change.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a receiving vessel and a motor that has a housing and a drive shaft. A drive wheel is coupled to the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive wheel. A follower wheel is aligned with the drive wheel along a longitudinal axis. A belt couples the drive wheel to the follower wheel wherein the belt forms a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel. The belt, which is formed of an elastomeric material, rotates in the loop while the drive wheel is rotated. An arm extends between the drive wheel and the follower wheel wherein opposing ends of the arm define the longitudinal axis.
A pivot assembly pivotably couples the arm to the housing of the motor. The arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel. Specifically, a pivot bearing bracket is coupled to the arm. The pivot bearing bracket extends upwardly relative to the arm wherein the pivot bearing bracket is positioned adjacent to the housing of the motor. A fixing bracket is fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket and pivotably coupled to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative the receiving vessel while the arm remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel.
A contaminated fluid vessel is positioned proximate to the receiving vessel. The arm extends from the housing of the motor into the contaminated fluid vessel. The contaminated fluid vessel holds a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid. The follower wheel is positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel to position the belt in contact with the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid. The elastomeric material of the belt removably adheres to the first fluid as the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel whereby the belt facilitates removal of the first fluid from the contaminated fluid vessel for deposit of the first fluid in the receiving vessel.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an in-use view of a fluid decontamination assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 a is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new fluid separation device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 , the fluid decontamination assembly 10 generally comprises a receiving vessel 12 which as an interior space 14. The receiving vessel 12 generally includes a base wall 16 and a peripheral wall 18 that is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 16 to define the interior space 14. The peripheral wall 18 may have an upper edge 20 defining an opening into the interior space 14.
A motor 22 is coupled to the receiving vessel 12. The motor 22 may be positioned proximate to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18. The motor 22 generally includes a housing 24 and a drive shaft 26 that is rotatably coupled to the housing 24. The drive shaft 26 extends outwardly from the housing 24 over the receiving vessel 12. Typically, the motor 22 is a rotational motor 22. In preferred embodiments, the motor 22 is a gearmotor with an integrated gear reduction system which may be referred to as a “gearbox”. The gearbox is positioned within the housing 24 and may thus be referred to as an “internal component” of the motor 22. The gearmotor is preferred because a speed of the gearmotor (measured in revolutions per minute, or “RPM”) and a torque (or “load”) of the motor 22 can be changed. Speed and torque are inversely proportional. As the speed at which the drive shaft 26 is rotated increases, less torque forces are exerted on the gearbox and other internal components of the motor 22 to reduce wear and tear on the internal components.
A drive wheel 28 is coupled to the drive shaft 26 of the motor 22. Rotation of the drive shaft 26 rotates the drive wheel 28 in the same direction in which the drive shaft 26 is rotated. For example, the drive shaft 26 may be rotated clockwise, thus rotating the drive wheel 28 clockwise. As shown most clearly in FIG. 6B, the drive wheel 28 generally includes a pair of opposing rims 30 and a neck 32 that extends between the pair of opposing rims 30. The neck 32 may be concavely arcuate between the pair of opposing rims 30, such that the neck 32 resembles a groove extending between the pair of opposing rims 30.
An exposed surface 34 of the drive wheel 28 may have a raised texture. In certain embodiments, the raised texture may be positioned on each opposing rim of the pair of opposing rims 30 and on the neck 32. However, embodiments wherein the raised texture is positioned only on the neck 32 are also contemplated. The raised texture may have various shapes and patterns, including, but not limited to, a threaded texture, a plurality of straight lines, a plurality of dots arranged in adjacent lines, a plurality of curled lines, and other patterns. The raised texture is more generally configured to improve the ability of the drive wheel to grip an object that is being rotated by the drive wheel and thus typically extends between the pair of opposing rims 30 as shown in FIG. 6A. For example, the raised texture may be perpendicular to the pair of opposing rims 30.
A follower wheel 36 is coupled to the drive wheel 28. The follower wheel 36 is aligned with the drive wheel 28 along a longitudinal axis. As shown in FIG. 8 , the follower wheel 36 generally has a structure which is similar to, or the same as, the structure of the drive wheel 28 described above.
A belt 38 couples the drive wheel 28 to the follower wheel 36. More specifically, the belt 38 forms a loop extending between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36. The belt 38 rotates in the loop while the drive wheel 28 is rotated. The loop has a top section 40 moving from the follower wheel 36 to the drive wheel 28. A bottom section 42 of the loop moves from the drive wheel 28 to the follower wheel 36.
The belt 38 may be formed of an elastomeric material, which is preferably oleophilic. Oleophilic materials have an affinity to oils and to non-polar substances. Thus, oleophilic materials readily absorb and adhere to oils and non-polar substances. Sometimes, oleophilic materials are referred to as hydrophobic because oleophilic materials have an aversion to water. The belt 38 is therefore more prone to pick up and removably adhere to oils than to water. Examples of elastomeric materials which are oleophilic include, but are not limited to, synthetic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane, and certain carbon-based materials.
The belt 38 may be positioned to extend between the pair of opposing rims 30 of the drive wheel 28 wherein the pair of opposing rims 30 and the exposed surface 34 of the drive wheel 28 is contact with the belt 38 to facilitate rotation of the belt 38 when the drive wheel 28 is rotated. For example, the belt 38 may have a width exceeding a width of the neck 32 of the drive wheel 28 wherein the pair of opposing rims 30 inhibit lateral movement of the belt 38 on the neck 32 of the drive wheel 28. In other words, the neck 32 of the drive wheel 28 may have a width that is less than a width of the belt 38, which is particularly preferred when the belt 38 has a rounded cross-section as indicated in FIG. 6A.
When the width of the neck 32 is less than the width of the belt 38, the belt 38 may be positioned on each opposing rim of the pair of opposing rims 30. In essence, the drive wheel 28 is undersized in comparison to the belt 38 in these embodiments. The pair of opposing rims 30 squeeze the belt 38 to pull the belt 38 from the follower wheel 36 to the drive wheel 28. Tension on the belt 38, caused by a distance between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36, pulls the belt 38 between the pair of opposing rims and into the concavely arcuate surface of the neck 32, inhibiting lateral movement of the belt 38 to keep the belt 38 from slipping off of the drive wheel 28. Because the belt 38 is positioned on the pair of opposing rims 30, the pair of opposing rims 30 also pull the belt 38 to rotate the loop. Such embodiments therefore preferably have the raised texture on the pair of opposing rims 30.
Alternative embodiments of the belt 38, for example with a flat cross-section, are also contemplated. A flat cross-section may increase a surface area of the belt 38. In such embodiments, the belt 38 generally has a width that is less than a distance between the pair of opposing rims 30 such that the belt 38 sits on, and is pulled by, the neck 32 of the drive wheel 28 and not the pair of opposing rims 30. In other words, the drive wheel 28 may be oversized in comparison to the belt 38, particularly when the belt 38 has the flat cross-section. The raised texture on the exposed surface 34 of the drive wheel 28 is preferably positioned on the neck 32 in these embodiments. The raised texture facilitates the neck 32 of the drive wheel 28 in pulling the belt 38 from the follower wheel 36 toward the drive wheel 28. Tension on the belt 38 also facilitates smooth rotation of the belt 38 and inhibits slippage of the belt 38 when the belt 38 has the flat cross-section.
An arm 44 is coupled to the housing 24 of the motor 22. The follower wheel 36 is generally coupled to the arm 44 wherein opposing ends of the arm 44 define the longitudinal axis. The arm 44 typically includes a tube 46 with a top end 48 and a bottom end 50. The top end 48 is positioned proximate to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12.
A rod 52 is nested within the tube 46. The rod 52 is extendable and retractable relative to the tube 46 to retain a constant tension on the belt 38 between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36. For example, the rod 52 may have an upper end 54 that is positioned within the tube 46. A lower end 56 is distally positioned relative to the tube 46. Thus, the lower end 56 of the rod 52 and the top end 48 of the tube 46 define the opposing ends of the arm 44. The follower wheel 36 is coupled to the lower end 56 of the rod 52 wherein the follower wheel 36 is distally positioned on the longitudinal axis relative to the drive wheel 28.
A spring 58 is also positioned within the tube 46, between the upper end 54 of the rod 52 to the top end 48 of the tube 46. Opposing ends of the spring 58 may be coupled to the upper end 54 of the rod 52 and the top end 48 of the tube 46, such that the spring couples the upper end 54 of the rod 52 to the top end 48 of the tube 46. The spring 58 is expandable and compressible to retain the constant tension on the belt 38 between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36. The constant tension is important to inhibit the belt 38 from slipping off of the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36 while the belt 38 is rotated in the loop.
The constant tension on the belt 38 also facilitates rotation of the follower wheel 36 as the belt 38 is rotated. Rotation of the follower wheel 36 minimizes resistance applied to the drive wheel 28 and the motor 22, which in turn inhibits wear and tear to those components. The constant tension on the belt 38 results in constant tension exerted by the drive wheel 28 on the drive shaft 26 of the motor 22, which allows the motor 22 to rotate the drive shaft 26 at an increased rate, or RPM, while also minimizing torque forces is applied to the drive shaft 26 and the internal components within the housing 24 of the motor 22. The constant tension is achieved because the spring 58 can adjust a position of the top end 48 of the tube 46 relative to the lower end 56 of the rod 52 in real time.
A pivot assembly 60 pivotably couples the arm 44 to the housing 24 of the motor 22. The arm 44 is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The drive shaft 26 of the motor 22 defines a pivot point about which the arm 44 may be pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to a transverse plane 62 extending through the drive shaft 26. The transverse plane 62 is parallel to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. In other words, the arm 44 can glide upwardly and downwardly relative to a centerline of the drive shaft 26.
The pivot assembly 60 may include a pivot bearing bracket 64 that is coupled to the top end 48 of the tube 46 of the arm 44. The pivot bearing bracket 64 extends upwardly relative to the tube 46 wherein the pivot bearing bracket 64 is positionable adjacent to the housing 24 of the motor 22. FIGS. 5A and 5B provide an exemplary depiction of the positioning of the pivot bearing bracket 64 relative to the tube 46. The arm 44 is fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket 64.
A pivot bearing 66 couples the pivot bearing bracket 64 to the drive shaft 26 of the motor 22. The drive wheel 28 is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft 26 adjacent to the pivot bearing 66 such that the drive wheel 28 is rotatable about the pivot bearing 66 when the drive shaft 26 is rotated. The pivot bearing 66 supports a combined weight of the drive wheel 28, the follower wheel 36, the belt 38, and the arm 44 on the drive shaft 26. By supporting the combined weight of these elements, the pivot bearing 66 inhibits damage to the motor 22 while the belt 38 is rotated and while the arm 44 is pivoted.
The pivot bearing 66 effectively redistributes the combined weight of the drive wheel 28, the follower wheel 36, the belt 38, and the arm 44 on the drive shaft 26 while the arm 44 is pivoted and the drive wheel 28 is rotated. Redistributing the combined weight prolongs a lifetime of the gearbox, internal bushings and other internal components of the motor 22 which are coupled to the drive shaft 26 within the housing 24. An overhung load on the internal components of the motor 22 is thus limited to the combined weight of the drive wheel 28, the follower wheel 36, the belt 38, and the arm 44, which is preferably between 1.5 pounds and 2.5 pounds. Moreover, the follower wheel 36 is only coupled to the drive wheel 28 via the belt 38, such that the weight of the follower wheel 36 does not pull, or put tension on, the drive shaft 26.
The pivot bearing 66 is rotatably coupled to the pivot bearing bracket 64 via a pressed fitting 150 wherein the pivot bearing 66 is rotated when the drive shaft 26 is rotated. Because the pivot bearing 66 is rotated, the pivot bearing bracket 64 is inhibited from being rotated when the drive shaft 26 is rotated. In this sense, the pivot bearing 66 may be thought of as freewheeling within the pivot bearing bracket 64, allowing the pivot bearing bracket 64 to remain statically positioned relative to the drive shaft 26. The pivot bearing bracket 64 also pulls the drive wheel 28 flush against the pivot bearing bracket 64, allowing the drive wheel 28 to remain in a fixed lateral position relative to the drive shaft 26. Because the position of the drive wheel 28 relative to the drive shaft 26 is fixed, the drive shaft 26 can be rotated at increased speeds, or RPMs, which reduces the torque forces applied to the motor 22.
A fixing bracket 68 may be coupled to and extend from the pivot bearing bracket 64. The fixing bracket 68 is coupled to the housing 24 of the motor 22. More specifically, the fixing bracket 68 is fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket 64 and pivotably coupled to the housing 24 of the motor 22. This configuration allows the arm 44 to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 while the arm 44 remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel 28.
The fixing bracket 68 may include a body 70 extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the receiving vessel 12 wherein the body 70 is angled to extend upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm 44. The body 70 has a first end 72 and a second end 74. The pivot bearing bracket 64 is fixedly coupled to the first end 72. The second end 74 is distally positioned on the body 70 relative to the first end 72. A channel 76 may extend through the body 70 between the first end 72 and the second end 74.
A knob 78 may couple the body 70 to the housing 24 of the motor 22. The knob 78 is rotatably coupled to the housing 24. Specifically. the knob 78 is rotatable in a first direction to tighten the fixing bracket 68 against the housing 24. While the knob 78 is tightened, the arm 44 is inhibited from pivoting upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The knob 78 is rotatable in a second direction to loosen the fixing bracket 68 from the housing 24. While the knob 78 is loosened, the arm 44 is able to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12.
The knob 78 is positioned to extend through the channel 76. The first end 72 of the body 70 moves toward the knob 78 when the arm 44 is pivoted upwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The first end 72 of the body 70 moves away from the knob 78 when the arm 44 is pivoted downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18. FIG. 5A provides an exemplary depiction of the movement of the body 72 relative to the knob 78 as the arm 44 pivots upwardly and downwardly.
A contaminated fluid vessel 80 is positioned proximate to the receiving vessel 12. The arm 44 extends from the housing 24 of the motor 22 above the receiving vessel 12 into the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The contaminated fluid vessel 80 holds a mixture 81 of a first fluid 82 and a second fluid 84.
The follower wheel 36 of the arm 44 is positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 to position the belt 38 in contact with the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. The elastomeric material of the belt 38 absorbs, the first fluid 82. In other words, the first fluid 82 removably adheres to the belt 38 as the top section 40 of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel 80 toward the receiving vessel 12. The elastomeric material of the belt 38 repels second fluid 84 wherein the second fluid 84 is inhibited from adhering to the belt 38 as the top section 40 of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel 80 toward the receiving vessel 12. Accordingly, the belt 38 facilitates removal of the first fluid 82 from the second fluid 84. The first fluid 82 may be a tramp 112 oil and the second fluid 84 may be a coolant.
The first fluid 82 generally has a density that is less than a density of the second fluid 84. The density of the second fluid 84 is configured to facilitate gravity in inducing separation of the first fluid 82 from the second fluid 84 thereby resulting in a stratified arrangement of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. The stratified arrangement may be positioned within each of the receiving vessel 12 and the contaminated fluid vessel 80, depending on how long the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 are left standing in the receiving vessel 12 and the contaminated fluid vessel 80. However, turbulence within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 may mix the first fluid 82 with the second fluid 84, limiting the ability of gravity to create the stratified arrangement. The receiving vessel 12 may have a height exceeding a height of the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The height of the receiving vessel 12 is configured to facilitate gravity in inducing separation of the first fluid 82 from the second fluid 84 within the receiving vessel 12. The receiving vessel 12 may also have a volume exceeding a volume of the contaminated fluid vessel 80 to inhibit the receiving vessel 12 from overflowing as the first fluid 82 is collected in the receiving vessel 12.
A float 86 may be slidably coupled to the rod 52 of the arm 44. For example, a buoy 88 that is coupled to the rod 52 of the arm 44 wherein the buoy 88 is positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The buoy 88 generally floats on, or near, an upper surface of the mixture 81. For example, the buoy 88 may have a density that is less than a density of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. Floatation of the buoy 88 inhibits the follower wheel 36 from being fully submerged in the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. Thus, the buoy 88 inhibits the bottom section 42 of the loop from being fully submerged in the second fluid 84, which helps to retain the first fluid 82 on the belt 38 as the belt 38 is rotated from the drive wheel 28 to the follower wheel 36 and back toward the drive wheel 28.
For example, without the buoy 88, the follower wheel 36 may sink between 10.0inches and 14.0 inches beneath the upper surface of the mixture 81. With the buoy 88 coupled to the arm 44, the follower wheel 36 may only sink between 1.0 inches and 2.5 inches into the mixture 81 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. Thus, the buoy 88 keeps the belt 38 closer to the upper surface of the mixture 81 where the first fluid 82 is more prevalent because of the density differential between the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 described above. The second fluid 84 is also inhibited from rinsing the first fluid 82 off of the belt 38 as the belt 38 returns from the drive wheel 28 to the follower wheel 36 and is rotated back toward the drive wheel 28.
The buoy 88 may also urge the arm 44 to pivot downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 as a volume of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 decreases within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. In other words, as the upper surface of the mixture 81 moves downwardly, the buoy 88 also moves downwardly to urge the arm 44 downwardly. This coordinated movement maintains contact between an outer periphery of the loop and the first fluid 82. The outer periphery of the loop is positioned around the follower wheel 36 wherein the outer periphery of the loop defines a junction between the top section 40 and the bottom section 42 of the loop.
Conversely, the buoy 88 may urge the arm 44 to pivot upwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 as the volume of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 increases within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. By urging the arm 44 upwardly as the volume of the mixture 81 increases, the buoy 88 and the arm 44 inhibit the belt 38 from being fully submerged within the second fluid 84.
The buoy 88 may be referred to as “ocean floats” which generally submerge further into water than they submerge into oils. For example, the buoy 88 may only submerge between approximately 10.0% and 20.0% of its mass into water (an example of the second fluid 84). Comparatively, the buoy 88 may submerge between approximately 15.0% and 25.0% of its mass into oil (an example of the first fluid 82). Such relative buoyance helps keep the buoy 88 close to the upper surface of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84, which helps keep the outer periphery of the belt 38 in more contact with the first fluid 82 than the second fluid 84. The size of the buoy 88 can vary, for example to optimize performance based on factors including, but not limited to, the size of the contaminated fluid vessel 80 and the characteristics of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. The size of the buoy 88 may also be determined based on the desired depth at which the buoy 88 will submerge, or sink, into the mixture 81.
The buoy 88 may be one of a pair of buoys 88. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pair of buoys 88 may be coupled to opposing sides of the rod 52 of the arm 44. In such embodiments, an axle 90 may extend between the pair of buoys 88. The follower wheel 36 turns with the belt 38, to facilitate the spring 58 in maintaining constant tension on the belt 38. Thus, the follower wheel 36 may be rotatably coupled to the axle 90. However, the pair of buoys 88 may be fixedly coupled to the axle 90 to inhibit rotation of the pair of buoys 90 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. Because the pair of buoys 88 are each fixedly mounted to the axle 90, the pair of buoys 88 will not create turbulence within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 that would more uniformly mix the first fluid 82 with the second fluid 84. This fixed coupling thus facilitates the belt 38 in removing more of the first fluid 82 than the second fluid 84 from the contaminated fluid vessel 80.
An adjusting bracket 92 may slidably couple the axle 90 to the rod 52 of the arm 44 wherein the adjusting bracket 92 facilitates upward and downward movement of the pair of buoys 88 relative to the lower end 56 of the rod 52 of the arm 44. When the pair of buoys 88 are moved upwardly along the rod 52 toward the tube 46, the pair of buoys 88 move away from the follower wheel 36 and the outer periphery of the loop. Conversely, when the pair of buoys 88 are moved downwardly along the rod 52 and away from the tube 46, the pair of buoys 88 move toward the follower wheel 36 and the outer periphery of the loop. For example, movement of the pair of buoys 88 relative to the follower wheel 36 may be desired to ensure that the follower wheel 36 is optimally positioned relative to the upper surface of the mixture 81 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. When the contaminated fluid vessel 80 contains more of the first fluid 82 than the second fluid 84, it may be preferable to submerge the follower wheel 36 more deeply into the mixture 81 than it would be when the contaminated fluid vessel 80 contains less of the first fluid 82 than the second fluid 84.
For example, the adjusting bracket 92 may include a hub 94 that is coupled to the axle 90. The hub 94 may have a fin 96 that is parallel to the axle 90. The fin 96 is statically coupled to the axle 90 to inhibit movement of the fin 96 along the axle 90. A column 98 may be coupled to and extend from the fin 96. As shown most clearly in FIG. 9 , the column 98 may include a top wall 100 that is distally positioned relative to the fin 96. Accordingly, the top wall 100 is spaced from the axle 90. The top wall 100 may be parallel to the axle 90.
A pair of lateral walls 102 may extend between the top wall 100 and the fin 96. The pair of lateral walls 102 may be perpendicular to the axle 90. A through-hole 104 may extend through the column 98 of the hub 94. The rod 52 of the arm 44 is positioned within the through-hole 104. The through-hole 104 is preferably spaced from the top wall 100 of the column 98. The through-hole 104 may be centered between the pair of lateral walls 102 of the column 98.
A notch 106 may extend through the top wall 100 of the column 98 of the hub 94 into the through-hole 104. The notch 106 may be perpendicular to the axle 90. A fastener 108 extends through the pair of lateral walls 102 of the column 98 of the hub 94. The fastener 108 is also positioned to extend through the notch 106. Rotation of the fastener 108 adjusts a width of the notch 106. More specifically, the fastener 108 may be rotatable in a primary direction to reduce the width of the notch 106, which in turn reduces a diameter of the through-hole 104 to inhibit movement of the hub 94 along the rod 52 of the arm 44. The fastener 108 may be rotatable in a secondary direction to increase the width of the notch 106 thereby increasing the diameter of the through-hole 104 to facilitate movement of the hub 94 along sad rod 52 of the arm 44.
A fluid removal assembly 110 may be in physical contact with the belt 38. The fluid removal assembly 110 removes the first fluid 82 from the top section 40 of the loop. Accordingly, the fluid removal assembly 110 is positioned above the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 such that the fluid removal assembly 110 directs the first fluid 82 into the receiving vessel 12 when the first fluid 82 is removed from the belt 38.
For example, a ramp 112 may be angled to extend downwardly from the belt 38 and into the interior space 14 of the receiving vessel 12. The ramp 112 may include a plate 114 with a raised edge 116 and a lowered edge 118. The plate 114 extends through the opening that is defined by the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 wherein the raised edge 116 is positioned outside of the receiving vessel 12 and wherein the lowered edge 118 is positioned within the interior space 14. The plate 114 may be planar between the raised edge 116 and the lowered edge 118. The raised edge 116 may be parallel to the lowered edge 118. A pair of opposing sides 120 of the ramp 112 may extend upwardly from opposing edges of the plate 114. The pair of opposing sides 120 may be parallel to each other.
A cutout 122 extends through the plate 114. The belt 38 moves through the cutout 122 as the belt 38 is rotated. The cutout 122 may extend inwardly through the raised edge 116 toward the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114. For example, a terminal boundary 124 of the cutout 122 may be positioned between the raised edge 116 and the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114. The terminal boundary 124 may be parallel to the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114.
A first pair of side boundaries 126 may extend from the terminal boundary 124 toward the raised edge 116 of the plate 114. The first pair of side boundaries 126 may be perpendicular to the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114. A second pair of side boundaries 128 may extend from the first pair of side boundaries 126. The second pair of side boundaries 128 may be parallel to the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114. The second pair of side boundaries 128 may have a length that is less than a length of the first pair of side boundaries 126. A third pair of side boundaries 130 may extend from the second pair of side boundaries 128 to the raised edge 116 of the plate 114. The third pair of side boundaries 130 may be perpendicular to the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114. The third pair of side boundaries 130 may have a length that exceeds a length of the first pair of side boundaries 126.
An upper scraper 132 may be coupled to the belt 38. The belt 38 moves through the upper scraper 132 toward the ramp 112 as the belt 38 is rotated from the drive wheel 28 toward the follower wheel 36. The upper scraper 132 is in physical contact with the belt 38 wherein the upper scraper 132 removes the first fluid 82 from the top section 40 of the loop as the belt 38 moves through the upper scraper 132. The upper scraper 132 may be made from rubber.
A lower scraper 134 may be coupled to the belt 38 such that the belt 38 extends through the lower scraper 134. The lower scraper 134 is positioned between the upper scraper 132 and the ramp 112 wherein the belt 38 moves through the upper scraper 132 into the lower scraper 134 as the belt 38 is rotated from the drive wheel 28 toward the follower wheel 36. The lower scraper 134 may have an inner diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the upper scraper 132. In other words, the lower scraper 134 is generally more tightly positioned around the belt 38 than the upper scraper 132 to facilitate removal of the first fluid 82 from the top section 40 of the loop as the belt 38 moves between the upper scraper 132 and the lower scraper 134. The lower scraper 134 may have an outer diameter exceeding an outer diameter of the first scraper, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6A. The lower scraper 134 may be made from a metal material.
A sled 136 may be coupled to the belt 38 wherein the belt 38 extends through the sled 136. The sled 136 is positioned between the lower scraper 134 and the ramp 112. For example, the sled 136 may be slidably positioned on top of the plate 114 of the ramp 112 wherein the sled 136 is movable forwardly and backwardly relative to the raised edge 116 and the lowered edge 118 of the plate 114 when the arm 44 is pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The sled 136 has a length exceeding a length of the cutout 122 wherein the sled 136 covers the cutout 122 to inhibit the first fluid 82 from dripping through the cutout 122 when the first fluid 82 is removed from the belt 38. Ideally, the length of the sled 136 is long enough to ensure that the sled 136 covers the cutout 122 when the sled 136 moves forwardly and backwardly to accommodate the pivoting movement of the arm 44.
The lower scraper 134 is positioned between the upper scraper 132 and the sled 136. The belt 38 thus travels through the upper scraper 132 before moving through the lower scraper 134, and then the sled 136, to remove the first fluid 82 from the belt 38. In other words, the top section 40 of the loop travels upwardly from the follower wheel 36 to the drive wheel 28. The belt 38 then moves around the drive wheel 28 into the upper scraper 132, which begins removing the first fluid 82 from the belt 38. The lower scraper 134 is tighter on the belt 38 to remove more of the first fluid 82 from the belt 38. The belt 38 then moves through the sled 136, which further removes the first fluid 82 and directs the first fluid 82 downwardly along the ramp 112 toward the lowered end for deposit of the first fluid 82 into the receiving vessel 12.
A fluid return assembly 138 may be coupled to the receiving vessel 12 and extend into the contaminated fluid vessel 80. Inevitably, at least some of the second fluid 84 will travel with the first fluid 82 up the belt 38 from the contaminated fluid vessel 80 into the receiving vessel 12, for example because the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 are generally mixed together in the contaminated fluid vessel 80. As explained above, the height of the receiving vessel 12 and the density differential between the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 facilitate separation of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 within the receiving vessel 12. Because the second fluid 84 is denser, or heavier, than the first fluid 82, the second fluid 84 is generally positioned between the first fluid 82 and the base wall 16 of the receiving vessel 12. The fluid return assembly 138 urges the second fluid 84 out of the receiving vessel 12 and deposits the second fluid 84 back in the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The second fluid 84 can thus be collected with the contaminated fluid vessel 80 and the first fluid 82 can be collected within the receiving vessel 12.
For example, the fluid return assembly 138 may include a pipe 140 having an inner area 142 extending between an inlet 144 and an air outlet 146. The inlet 144 is positioned proximate to the base wall 16 of the receiving vessel 12 wherein the inlet 144 is submerged in the second fluid 84 when the second fluid 84 is positioned within the receiving vessel 12. The stratified arrangement of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 within the receiving vessel 12 helps to ensure that the inlet 144 is submerged specifically in the second fluid 84, at least until the receiving vessel 12 is completely emptied of the second fluid 84 and contains only the first fluid 82. The air outlet 146 is positioned adjacent to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The air outlet 146 is thus not submerged, such that the air outlet 146 exposes the inner area 142 of the pipe 140 to an atmospheric pressure that is less than a pressure at the base wall 16 of the receiving vessel 12.
The pressure differential between the inlet 144 and the air outlet 146 urges the second fluid 84 upwardly through the inner area 142 toward the air outlet 146. The inlet 144 may be vertically aligned with the air outlet 146. The pipe 140 is preferably formed of a rigid material wherein the rigid material inhibits deformation of the pipe 140 to retain vertical alignment of the inlet 144 with the air outlet 146. The rigid material inhibits deformation of the pipe 140 to retain a constant pressure differential between the inlet 144 and the air outlet 146 while the inlet 144 is submerged in the second fluid 84.
A fluid outlet 148 may extend through the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 into the pipe 140 wherein the fluid outlet 148 is in fluid communication with the inner area 142 of the pipe 140. The fluid outlet 148 is generally positioned between the air outlet 146 and the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18. In other words, the fluid outlet 148 is generally positioned between the inlet 144 and the air outlet 146 wherein a distance between the inlet 144 and the fluid outlet 148 exceeds a distance between the air outlet 146 and the fluid outlet 148. This arrangement allows the second fluid 84 to flow outwardly from the receiving vessel 12 through the fluid outlet 148 when the second fluid 84 is urged upwardly through the inner area 142 of the pipe 140. The air outlet 146 may be perpendicular to the pipe 140.
A fitting 150 may be coupled to the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 and generally extends from the fluid outlet 148. The second fluid 84 flows through the fluid outlet 148 into the fitting 150. The fitting 150 may be an elbow fitting 150, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 , wherein the fitting 150 defines a right angle extending outwardly from the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 and downwardly from the fluid outlet 148.
A hose 152 is coupled to and extends from the fitting 150 into the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The second fluid 84 flows from the fitting 150 into the hose 152 and the hose 152 deposits the second fluid 84 in the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The hose 152 may be flexible to facilitate positioning the hose 152 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. In some alternative embodiments, the hose 152 may be coupled directly to the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12 such that the hose 152 is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet 148. Such embodiments generally exclude the fitting 150.
The receiving vessel 12 may be transparent or translucent to facilitate visibility of the stratified arrangement of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 within the receiving vessel 12. For example, a user may view the stratified arrangement to determine when the receiving vessel 12 contains only with the first fluid 82. Once the receiving vessel 12 is filled only with the first fluid 82, the fluid return assembly 138 will return the first fluid 82 to the contaminated fluid vessel 80, effectively re-mixing the first fluid 82 with the second fluid 84 and causing the belt 38 to chase its own tail. When the receiving vessel 12 is transparent or translucent, the user can simply view the receiving vessel from a distance and know when to turn off the motor 22 and empty the receiving vessel 12. Because the fluid return assembly 138 can return both the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 to the contaminated fluid vessel 80, the fluid return assembly 138 also inhibits the receiving vessel 12 from overflowing and releasing the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 onto a surface on which the receiving vessel 12 is positioned.
A support mount 154 may be coupled to the upper edge 20 of the peripheral wall 18 of the receiving vessel 12. The housing 24 of the motor 22 is positioned on the support mount 154 wherein the support mount 154 suspends the housing 24 of the motor 22 above the opening into the interior space 14 of the receiving vessel 12. An innermost opposing side 121 of the pair of opposing sides 120 of the ramp 112 of the fluid removal assembly 110 may be fixedly coupled to the support mount 154 to inhibit movement of the ramp 112 of the fluid removal assembly 110. The support mount 154 may extend between opposing sides of the peripheral wall 18, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3 .
A particulate strainer 155 may be coupled to the arm 44 wherein the belt 38 is positioned within the particulate strainer 155. For example, a perforated cover 156 may be coupled to the arm 44. The perforated cover 156 inhibits solid debris within the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 from adhering to the top section 40 of the loop. In other words, the solid debris will not adhere to the belt 38 as the belt 38 moves through the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 because the perforated cover 156 inhibits physical contact between the solid debris and the belt 38. This inhibits the solid debris from adhering to the belt 38 and being deposited into the receiving vessel 12. Examples of the solid debris include plastic, metal chips, and fines, although additional types of abrasive solid debris are also contemplated. If deposited into the receiving vessel 12, the solid debris can damage components of the fluid decontamination assembly 10. The solid debris could damage the belt 38, clog the fluid return assembly 138, create blockages on the fluid removal assembly 110, and contaminating the first fluid 82 that is being collected and purified within the receiving vessel 12.
A slide 158 may be coupled to the perforated cover 156 wherein the slide 158 is positioned beneath the bottom section 42 of the belt 38. The slide 158 thus directs the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 into the contaminated fluid vessel 80 when the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 are not removed from the belt 38 by the fluid removal assembly 110. For example, the first fluid 82 may overload on the belt 38 such that the fluid removal assembly 110 cannot completely remove the first fluid 82 from the belt 38 before the belt 38 travels back downwardly toward the follower wheel 36 and the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The second fluid 84 may also adhere to the belt 38, for example because of how uniformly the second fluid 84 is mixed with the first fluid 82. Because the elastomeric material of the belt 38 repels the second fluid 84, the second fluid 84 may drip off of the belt 38 as the belt 38 travels between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36. The slide 158 directs the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 that drips from the belt 38 back into the contaminated fluid vessel 80, inhibiting the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 from dripping onto the surface on which the fluid decontamination assembly 10 is positioned.
The fluid decontamination assembly 10 may be thought of as a hybrid between a coalescer, a decanter, and an oil skimmer. Like a coalescer, the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 are deposited from the contaminated fluid vessel 80 into the receiving vessel 12 where gravity separates the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 into the stratified arrangement. The fluid return assembly 138 then returns the heavier, second fluid 84 back into the contaminated fluid vessel 80. Like a decanter, the first fluid 82 is allowed to separate from the second fluid 84 and form the stratified arrangement. Like an oil skimmer, the belt 38 rotates in the loop, attracting the first fluid 82 to remove the first fluid 82 from the second fluid 84 because the belt 38 is formed of the elastomeric material which is attracted only to the first fluid 82 and which repels the second fluid 84.
In use, when the motor 22 is actuated, the drive shaft 26 will rotate. Rotation of the drive shaft 26 rotates the drive wheel 28, which will rotate the belt 38 in the loop between the drive wheel 28 and the follower wheel 36, which is positioned within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The elastomeric material of the belt 38 will removably adhere to, or absorb, the first fluid 82 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80, for example because the elastomeric material is oleophilic and the first fluid 82 is an oil. As explained above, the pivot bearing 66 holds the drive wheel 28 flush against the pivot bearing bracket 64, reducing the overhung load on the drive shaft 26 and the internal components of the motor 22 within the housing 24. At the same time, the fixing bracket 68 is pivotably coupled to the housing 24 of the motor 22 and fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket 64 such that the arm 44 can pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel 12 while remaining stationary relative to the drive wheel 28 and the drive shaft 26. This configuration also keeps the drive shaft 26 from influencing the freewheeling movement of the pivot bearing 66 relative to the pivot bearing bracket 64.
The knob 78 allows the user to selectively enable and inhibit the arm 44 from pivoting relative to the receiving vessel 12. More specifically, if the user wants the float 86 to facilitate the arm 44 in pivoting upwardly and downwardly as the volume of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80 fluctuates, the knob 78 can be loosened (or rotated in the second direction) to allow the pivot bearing bracket 64 and arm 44 to pivot relative to the receiving vessel 12. If the user wants the follower wheel 36, belt 38, and arm 44 to remain fixedly positioned within the contaminated fluid vessel 80, regardless of the volume of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84, the knob 78 can be tightened (or rotated in the first direction) to inhibit the pivot bearing bracket 64 and arm 44 from pivoting relative to the receiving vessel 12. For example, the user may want to tighten the knob 78 when using embodiments which omit the float 86.
The spring 58 between the rod 52 and the tube 46 of the arm 44 maintains the constant tension on the belt 38 as the arm 44 pivots upwardly and downwardly, and as the belt 38 moves through the fluid removal assembly 110. For example, when the belt 38 is squeezed by the upper scraper 132 and the lower scraper 134, the tension on the belt 38 may change. The spring 58 would then expand or compress to urge the rod 52 toward or away from the top end 48 of the tube 46, as needed, to maintain the constant tension and inhibit the belt 38 from coming loose and falling off the drive wheel 28 or the follower wheel 36. Preferably, the spring 58 is compressed when the rod 52 moves toward the top end 48 of the tube 46 and expands when the rod 52 moves away from the top end 48 of the tube 46. The spring 58 may be biased to expand to urge the follower wheel 36 away from the drive wheel 28 and inhibit the belt 38 from slipping off either the drive wheel 28 or the follower wheel 36.
Because of the minimized overhung load, the drive shaft 26 can rotate the drive wheel 28 very quickly, increasing the chances that the belt 38 will slip off either the drive wheel 28 or the follower wheel 36. The belt 38 may also be more prone to slipping off the drive wheel 28 when the spring 58 is not used because the belt 38 is squeezed by the upper scraper 132 and the lower scraper 134 adjacent to the drive wheel 28, such that the first fluid 82 can be deposited into the receiving vessel 12. The speed at which the belt 38 is rotated in the loop makes the constant tension on the belt 38 important. The constant tension on the belt 38 helps to ensure that the belt 38 does not need to be repeatedly reconnected to either the drive wheel 28 or the follower wheel 36.
The faster at which the belt 38 can be rotated in the loop, the faster the first fluid 82 can be removed from the second fluid 84 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. Increased speed also, therefore, increases the amount of the first fluid 82 which can be removed overall.
The fluid removal assembly 110 effectively squeezes the belt 38 three times, first as the belt 38 passes through the upper scraper 132, second as the belt 38 passes through the lower scraper 134, and third as the belt 38 passes through the sled 136. The stacked configuration of the upper scraper 132, the lower scraper 134, and the sled 136 on top of the ramp 112 increases the amount of the first fluid 82 which can be removed from the top section 40 of the belt 38. The angle of the ramp 112 directs the first fluid 82 into the receiving vessel 12. The sled 136 is slidably positioned on the plate 114 of the ramp 112 so that the sled 136 can move forwardly and backwardly along the plate 114 as the arm 44 pivots upwardly and downwardly. This coordinated movement maintains a constant pressure on the belt 38 as the belt 38 moves through the stacked configuration of the upper scraper 132, the lower scraper 134, and the sled 136. It also ensures that the first fluid 82 does not drip through the cutout 122 extending through the plate 114 of the ramp 112. The cutout 122 is necessary, however, because the belt 38 needs to pass through the plate 114 as the bottom section 42 of the loop moves toward the follower wheel 36.
Inevitably, however, at least some of the first fluid 82 will remain on the bottom section 42 of the loop. Faster rotation of the belt 38 in the loop reduces the amount of time that the outer periphery of the loop spends submerged in the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. Thus, faster rotation of the belt 38 increases performance by reducing the amount of the first fluid 82 which is rinsed back off into the contaminated fluid vessel 80 as the belt 38 moves through the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The float 86, which can automatically adjust a position of the follower wheel 36, and thus the outer periphery of the belt 38, relative to the upper surface of the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84 within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The buoy floats near the upper surface. As the volume of the mixture 81 decreases, the upper surface of the mixture 81 moves downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel 80. The float 86 will thus facilitate the arm 44 in pivoting downward to maintain contact between the outer periphery of the loop and the mixture 81 of the first fluid 82 and the second fluid 84. These features work in tandem to both ensure that the belt 38 remains in contact with the first fluid 82 and to minimize the amount of the first fluid 82 which is deposited back into the contaminated fluid vessel 80 by the belt 38.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an clement by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present. unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

I claim:

1. A skimming apparatus comprising:

a receiving vessel;

a motor being coupled to the receiving vessel, the motor including:

a housing; and

a drive shaft being rotatably coupled to the housing;

a drive wheel being coupled to the drive shaft of the motor wherein rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive wheel;

a follower wheel being coupled to the drive wheel, the follower wheel being aligned with the drive wheel;

a belt forming a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the belt rotating in the loop while the drive wheel is rotated, the belt being formed of an elastomeric material;

an arm extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel;

a pivot assembly pivotably coupling the arm to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel, the pivot assembly including:

a pivot bearing bracket extending upwardly relative to the arm wherein the pivot bearing bracket is positioned adjacent to the housing of the motor; and

a fixing bracket being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket and pivotably coupled to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the receiving vessel while the arm remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel; and

a contaminated fluid vessel being positioned proximate to the receiving vessel wherein the arm extends from the housing of the motor into the contaminated fluid vessel, the contaminated fluid vessel holding a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid, the follower wheel being positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel to position the belt in contact with the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt removably adhering to the first fluid as the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel whereby the belt facilitates removal of the first fluid from the second fluid.

2. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, the pivot assembly further comprising a pivot bearing coupling the pivot bearing bracket to the drive shaft of the motor, the drive wheel being rotatably coupled to the drive shaft adjacent to the pivot bearing wherein the drive wheel is rotatable about the pivot bearing when the drive shaft is rotated.

3. The skimming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pivot bearing supports a combined weight of the drive wheel, the follower wheel, the belt, and the arm on the drive shaft to inhibit damage to the motor while the belt is rotated and while the arm is pivoted.

4. The skimming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pivot bearing is rotatably coupled to the pivot bearing bracket via a pressed fitting wherein the pivot bearing is rotated when the drive shaft is rotated to inhibit the pivot bearing bracket from being rotated when the drive shaft is rotated.

5. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, the fixing bracket of the pivot assembly further comprising:

a body extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the receiving vessel wherein the body is angled to extend upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm;

a channel extending through the body; and

a knob coupling the body to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatably coupled to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatable in a first direction to tighten the fixing bracket against the housing and inhibit the arm from being pivoted upwardly and downwardly, the knob being rotatable in a second direction to loosen the fixing bracket from the housing and enable the arm to pivot upwardly and downwardly.

6. The skimming apparatus of claim 5, the body further comprising a first end and a second end, the pivot bearing bracket being fixedly coupled to the first end, the second end being distally positioned on the body relative to the first end, the channel extending between the first end and the second end.

7. The skimming apparatus of claim 6, wherein knob is positioned to extend through the channel wherein the first end of the body moves toward the knob when the arm is pivoted upwardly and wherein the first end of the body moves away from the knob when the arm is pivoted downwardly.

8. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, the arm further comprising:

a tube;

a rod being nested within the tube wherein the rod is extendable and retractable relative to the tube to retain a constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel; and

a spring coupling the rod to the tube, the spring being expandable and compressible to retain the constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel.

9. The skimming apparatus of claim 8, the rod further comprising:

an upper end being positioned within the tube, the upper end being coupled to the spring; and

a lower end being distally positioned relative to the tube wherein the lower end of the rod and a top end of the tube define the opposing ends of the arm, the follower wheel being coupled to the lower end of the rod wherein the follower wheel is distally positioned on the longitudinal axis relative to the drive wheel.

10. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid removal assembly being in physical contact with the belt wherein the fluid removal assembly removes the first fluid from the loop.

11. The skimming apparatus of claim 10, the fluid removal assembly further comprising:

a ramp being angled to extend downwardly from the belt and into the receiving vessel;

an upper scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper toward the ramp as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the upper scraper being in physical contact with the belt wherein the upper scraper removes the first fluid from the belt; and

a lower scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the lower scraper, the lower scraper being positioned between the upper scraper and the ramp wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper into the lower scraper as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel.

12. The skimming apparatus of claim 11, the fluid removal assembly further comprising a sled being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the sled, the sled being positioned between the lower scraper and the ramp, the sled being slidably positioned on top of the ramp wherein the sled is movable forwardly and backwardly on the ramp when the arm is pivoted upwardly and downwardly.

13. The skimming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lower scraper has an inner diameter being less than an inner diameter of the upper scraper wherein the lower scraper is more tightly positioned around the belt than the upper scraper to facilitate removal of the first fluid from the belt.

14. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a float being coupled to the arm, the float including a buoy being coupled to the arm, the buoy being positioned proximate to the follower wheel the buoy is positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel, the buoy having a density being less than a density of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid wherein the buoy inhibits the follower wheel from being fully submerged in the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid whereby the buoy inhibits the loop from being submerged in the second fluid as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel to the follower wheel and back toward the drive wheel.

15. The skimming apparatus of claim 14, wherein the buoy urges the arm to pivot downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel as a volume of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid decreases within the contaminated fluid vessel to maintain contact between an outer periphery of the loop and the first fluid, the outer periphery of the loop being positioned around the follower wheel.

16. The skimming apparatus of claim 14, wherein the buoy is one of a pair of buoys and wherein an axle extends between the pair of buoys.

17. The skimming apparatus of claim 16, the float further comprising an adjusting bracket slidably coupling the axle to the arm wherein the adjusting bracket facilitates upward and downward movement of the pair of buoys along the arm, the adjusting bracket including:

a hub being coupled to the axle;

a through-hole extending through the hub, the arm being positioned within the through-hole;

a notch extending through the hub into the through-hole; and

a fastener extending through the hub, the fastener being positioned to extend through the notch, the fastener being rotatable in a primary direction to reduce a width of the notch thereby reducing a diameter of the through-hole to inhibit movement of the hub along the arm, the fastener being rotatable in a secondary direction to increase a width of the notch thereby increasing a diameter of the through-hole to facilitate movement of the hub along the arm.

18. The skimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid return assembly being coupled to the receiving vessel and extending into the contaminated fluid vessel, the fluid return assembly including:

a pipe having an inner area, the pipe having an inlet and an air outlet, the inlet being submerged in the second fluid when the second fluid is positioned within the receiving vessel, the air outlet being positioned adjacent to an upper edge of the receiving vessel wherein the air outlet is configured to expose the inner area of the pipe to an atmospheric pressure being less than a pressure at the inlet to urge the second fluid upwardly through the inner area toward the air outlet;

a fluid outlet extending through the receiving vessel into the pipe wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the inner area of the pipe, the fluid outlet being positioned between the inlet and the air outlet wherein the second fluid flows outwardly from the receiving vessel through the fluid outlet when the second fluid is urged upwardly through the inner area of the pipe; and

a hose being coupled to and extending from the receiving vessel into the contaminated fluid vessel, the hose being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet wherein the second fluid flows from the fluid outlet into the hose and wherein the hose deposits the second fluid in the contaminated fluid vessel.

19. A skimming apparatus comprising:

a receiving vessel having an interior space, the receiving vessel including:

a base wall; and

a peripheral wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall to define the interior space, the peripheral wall having an upper edge defining an opening into the interior space;

a motor being coupled to the receiving vessel, the motor being positioned proximate to the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the motor including:

a housing; and

a drive shaft being rotatably coupled to the housing, the drive shaft extending outwardly from the housing over the receiving vessel;

a drive wheel being coupled to the drive shaft of the motor wherein rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive wheel, the drive wheel including:

a pair of opposing rims;

a neck extending between the pair of opposing rims, the neck being concavely arcuate between the pair of opposing rims; and

an exposed surface having a raised texture;

a follower wheel being coupled to the drive wheel, the follower wheel being aligned with the drive wheel along a longitudinal axis;

a belt coupling the drive wheel to the follower wheel wherein the belt forms a loop extending between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the belt rotating in the loop while the drive wheel is rotated, the loop having a top section moving from the follower wheel to the drive wheel, the loop having a bottom section moving from the drive wheel to the follower wheel, the belt being formed of an elastomeric material, the elastomeric material being oleophilic, the belt being positioned to extend between the pair of rims of the drive wheel wherein the exposed surface of the drive wheel is in physical contact with the belt to facilitate rotation of the belt when the drive wheel is rotated, the belt having a width exceeding a width of the neck of the drive wheel wherein the pair of opposing rims inhibit lateral movement of the belt on the neck of the drive wheel;

an arm being coupled to the housing of the motor, the belt extending around the drive wheel and the follower wheel wherein opposing ends of the arm define the longitudinal axis, the arm including:

a tube having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being positioned proximate to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel;

a rod being nested within the tube wherein the rod is extendable and retractable relative to the tube to retain a constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel, the rod including:

an upper end being positioned within the tube; and

a lower end being distally positioned relative to the tube wherein the lower end of the rod and the top end of the tube define the opposing ends of the arm, the follower wheel being coupled to the lower end of the rod wherein the follower wheel is distally positioned on the longitudinal axis relative to the drive wheel; and

a spring being positioned within the tube wherein the spring couples the upper end of the rod to the top end of the tube, the spring being expandable and compressible to retain the constant tension on the belt between the drive wheel and the follower wheel wherein the constant tension inhibits the belt from slipping off of the drive wheel and the follower wheel while the belt is rotated;

a pivot assembly pivotably coupling the arm to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the pivot assembly including:

a pivot bearing bracket being coupled to the top end of the tube of the arm, the pivot bearing bracket extending upwardly relative to the tube wherein the pivot bearing bracket is positionable adjacent to the housing of the motor, the arm being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket;

a pivot bearing coupling the pivot bearing bracket to the drive shaft of the motor, the drive wheel being rotatably coupled to the drive shaft adjacent to the pivot bearing wherein the drive wheel is rotatable about the pivot bearing when the drive shaft is rotated and wherein the pivot bearing supports a combined weight of the drive wheel, the follower wheel, the belt, and the arm on the drive shaft to inhibit damage to the motor while the belt is rotated and while the arm is pivoted, the pivot bearing being rotatably coupled to the pivot bearing bracket via a pressed fitting wherein the pivot bearing is rotated when the drive shaft is rotated to inhibit the pivot bearing bracket from being rotated when the drive shaft is rotated;

a fixing bracket being coupled to and extending from the pivot bearing bracket, the fixing bracket being coupled to the housing of the motor, the fixing bracket being fixedly coupled to the pivot bearing bracket and pivotably coupled to the housing of the motor wherein the arm is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel while the arm remains fixedly positioned relative to the drive wheel, the fixing bracket including:

a body extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the receiving vessel wherein the body is angled to extend upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm, the body having a first end and a second end, the pivot bearing bracket being fixedly coupled to the first end, the second end being distally positioned on the body relative to the first end;

a channel extending through the body between the first end and the second end; and

a knob coupling body to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatably coupled to the housing of the motor, the knob being rotatable in a first direction to tighten the fixing bracket against the housing and inhibit the arm from being pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the knob being rotatable in a second direction to loosen the fixing bracket from the housing and enable the arm to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the knob being positioned to extend through the channel wherein the first end of the body moves toward the knob when the arm is pivoted upwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel and wherein the first end of the body moves away from the knob when the arm is pivoted downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall;

a contaminated fluid vessel being positioned proximate to the receiving vessel wherein the arm extends from the housing of the motor above the receiving vessel into the contaminated fluid vessel, the contaminated fluid vessel holding a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid, the follower wheel being positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel to position the belt in contact with the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt removably adhering to the first fluid as the top section of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel whereby the belt facilitates removal of the first fluid from the second fluid, the elastomeric material of the belt repelling second fluid wherein the second fluid is inhibited from adhering to the belt as the top section of the loop travels upwardly from the contaminated fluid vessel toward the receiving vessel, the first fluid having a density being less than a density of the second fluid wherein a density differential between the first fluid and the second fluid is configured to facilitate gravity in inducing separation of the first fluid from the second fluid thereby resulting in a stratified arrangement of the first fluid and the second fluid within the receiving vessel;

a float being slidably coupled to the rod of the arm, the float including:

a pair of buoys being coupled to opposing sides of the rod of the arm wherein the pair of buoys are positionable within the contaminated fluid vessel, the pair of buoys having a density being less than a density of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid wherein the pair of buoys inhibit the follower wheel from being fully submerged in the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid whereby the pair of buoys inhibit the bottom section of the loop from being submerged in the second fluid to retain the first fluid on the belt as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel to the follower wheel and back toward the drive wheel, the pair of buoys urging the arm to pivot downwardly within the contaminated fluid vessel as a volume of the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid decreases within the contaminated fluid vessel to maintain contact between an outer periphery of the loop and the first fluid, the outer periphery of the loop being positioned around the follower wheel wherein the outer periphery of the loop defines a junction between the top section and the bottom section of the loop;

an axle extending between the pair of buoys; and

an adjusting bracket slidably coupling the axle to the rod of the arm wherein the adjusting bracket facilitates upward and downward movement of the pair of buoys relative to the lower end of the rod of the arm, the adjusting bracket including:

a hub being coupled to the axle, the hub including:

a fin being parallel to the axle, the fin being statically coupled to the axle to inhibit movement of the fin along the axle;

a column being coupled to and extending from the fin, the column including:

a top wall being distally positioned relative to the fin wherein the top wall is spaced from the axle; and

a pair of lateral walls extending between the top wall and the fin;

a through-hole extending through the column of the hub, the rod of the arm being positioned within the through-hole, the through-hole being spaced from the top wall of the column;

a notch extending through the top wall of the column of the hub into the through-hole; and

a fastener extending through the pair of lateral walls of the column of the hub, the fastener being positioned to extend through the notch, the fastener being rotatable in a primary direction to reduce a width of the notch thereby reducing a diameter of the through-hole to inhibit movement of the hub along the rod of the arm, the fastener being rotatable in a secondary direction to increase a width of the notch thereby increasing a diameter of the through-hole to facilitate movement of the hub along sad rod of the arm;

a fluid removal assembly being in physical contact with the belt wherein the fluid removal assembly removes the first fluid from the top section of the loop, the fluid removal assembly being positioned above the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the fluid removal assembly directs the first fluid into the receiving vessel when the first fluid is removed from the belt, the fluid removal assembly including:

a ramp being angled to extend downwardly from the belt and into the interior space of the receiving vessel, the ramp including:

a plate having a raised edge and a lowered edge, the plate extending through the opening defined by the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the raised edge is positioned outside of the receiving vessel and wherein the lowered edge is positioned within the interior space;

a pair of opposing sides extending upwardly from opposing edges of the plate; and

a cutout extending through the plate, the belt moving through the cutout as the belt is rotated;

an upper scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper toward the ramp as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the upper scraper being in physical contact with the belt wherein the upper scraper removes the first fluid from the top section of the loop as the belt moves through the upper scraper;

a lower scraper being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the lower scraper, the lower scraper being positioned between the upper scraper and the ramp wherein the belt moves through the upper scraper into the lower scraper as the belt is rotated from the drive wheel toward the follower wheel, the lower scraper having an inner diameter being less than an inner diameter of the upper scraper wherein the lower scraper is more tightly positioned around the belt than the upper scraper to facilitate removal of the first fluid from the top section of the loop as the belt moves between the upper scraper and the lower scraper; and

a sled being coupled to the belt wherein the belt extends through the sled, the sled being positioned between the lower scraper and the ramp, the sled being slidably positioned on top of the plate of the ramp wherein the sled is movable forwardly and backwardly relative to the raised edge and the lowered edge of the plate when the arm is pivoted upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the sled covering the cutout wherein the sled inhibits the first fluid from dripping through the cutout when the first fluid is removed from the belt;

a fluid return assembly being coupled to the receiving vessel and extending into the contaminated fluid vessel, the fluid return assembly including:

a pipe having an inner area extending between an inlet and an air outlet, the inlet being positioned proximate to the base wall of the receiving vessel wherein the inlet is submerged in the second fluid when the second fluid is positioned within the receiving vessel, the air outlet being positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel wherein the air outlet is configured to expose the inner area of the pipe to an atmospheric pressure being less than a pressure at the base wall of the receiving vessel to urge the second fluid upwardly through the inner area toward the air outlet;

a fluid outlet extending through the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel into the pipe wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the inner area of the pipe, the fluid outlet being positioned between the air outlet and the upper edge of the peripheral wall wherein a distance between the inlet and the fluid outlet exceeds a distance between the air outlet and the fluid outlet and wherein the second fluid flows outwardly from the receiving vessel through the fluid outlet when the second fluid is urged upwardly through the inner area of the pipe;

a fitting being coupled to the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel and extending from the fluid outlet wherein the second fluid flows through the fluid outlet into the fitting; and

a hose being coupled to and extending from the fitting into the contaminated fluid vessel wherein the second fluid flows from the fitting into the hose and wherein the hose deposits the second fluid in the contaminated fluid vessel;

a support mount being coupled to the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the receiving vessel, the housing of the motor being positioned on the support mount wherein the support mount suspends the housing of the motor above the opening into the interior space of the receiving vessel, an innermost opposing side of the pair of opposing sides of the ramp of the fluid removal assembly being fixedly coupled to the support mount to inhibit movement of the ramp of the fluid removal assembly; and

a particulate strainer being coupled to the arm wherein the belt is positioned within the particulate strainer, the particulate strainer including:

a perforated cover being coupled to the arm wherein the perforated cover inhibits solid debris within the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid from adhering to the top section of the loop; and

a slide being coupled to the perforated cover wherein the slide is positioned beneath the bottom section of the belt to direct the first fluid and the second fluid into the contaminated fluid vessel when the first fluid and the second fluid are not removed from the belt by the fluid removal assembly.