Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates ts a floating suction device. It is
particularly directed to such device which includes circumferentially
disposed intake nozzles and an axially disposed discharge nozzle.
Many floatable suction devices are known, but most are parti-
cularly adapted to pump selectively only the water on which the pump is
floating, with the additional provision of screens across the intake
opening to screen out foreign matter. A difficulty of prior art pumps
of this nature is that some pumps float rather deeply. This results in
the motor becoming wet as the assembly is not very stable in choppy
water conditions. Moreover, they tend to tilt or list in normal opera-
tion due to the weight of the hose and the way it is connected to the
pump. Accordingly, an object of one aspect of this invention is the
provision of such a floatable pump which is relatively stable in its
floating mode.
Another important problem presented by such floatable pumps
is that many of them havq relaitvely complex constructions and are conse-
quently not only relatively expensive to manufacture, but also, in the
event that such a pump must be dismantled for repair or maintenance9 such
dismantling can be a somewhat time-consuming operation. As ~he size and
weight of the commercially available pumps of this type increase, their
dismantling becomes progressively more awkward and difficult.
It is accordingly an object of another aspect of the present
invention to provide such a floatable pump which pump has a relatively
simple but effective construction, which may be easily dismantled, when
required~ for servicing or repair.
Moreover, floatable pump and motor assemblies which include a
float, a rotary propeller pump and a motor are known. In such known
assemblies, the propeller shaft is connected to the motor shaft by means
of a flexible coupling to overcome alignment problems. It is generally
considered a disadvantage, in such assemblies, for sludge or floating
objects to be drawn into the pump. It is therefore an object of yet
another aspect of this invention to provide an improved such assembly of
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float, pump and motor~
An ob~ect oP still another aspect of this invention is to pro-
vide a floating suetion deviee whieh is so disposed on the water that it
may be used to skim off an immiscible liquid floating on the surface of
another liquid, especially for skimming off oil floating on water.
By one broad aspect of this invention, an improved floating
suction device is provided comprising: a main body portion formed at
least partially of floatable material; a central axial pump impeller
chamber; a plurality of circumferentially disposed intake nozzles
leading axially inwardly and downwardly to the impeller chamber; a
pump operatively disposed within the impeller chamber; means for
driving the pump; and axial discharge means from the impeller chamber.
By one variant of this aspect, the main body portion includes
a lower section including a central cylindrical boss, and a symmetrical
dished rim extending outwardly therefrom, the upper surface of the
dished rim extending symmetrically downwardly and inwardly to a central
cavity within the boss.
By a second variant of this aspect, the main body portion
includes an upper pedestal, the lower surface thereof extending symmetri-
cally downwardly and inwardly to a central hollow core extendingupwardly within the pedestal.
By a preferred variant of this aspect, the main body portion
comprises: a lower section including a central cylindrical boss, and
a symmetrical dished rim extending outwardly therefrom, the upper sur-
face of the dished rim extending symmetrically downwardly and inwardly
to a central cavity within the boss; an upper pedestal, the lower sur-
face thereof extending symmetrically downwardly and inwardly to a central
hollow core extending upwardly within the pedestal; and a plurality of
circumferentially spaced-apart spiders separating, but ~oining the upper
surface of the dished rim and the lower surface of the upper pedestal~
thereby providing the intake no7~1e in the form of a dished continuously
variable annulus, especially where the hollow core comprises the impeller
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chamber and includes a pump ~tor mounted therein, the intake to the
impeller chamber being a continuous clrcumferential slot, a~d also
where the pump motor is securely mounted on the top surface of the upper
pedestal.
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By another variant, the pump ls a progressive cavity
pump-
Thus, by a main aspect of this invention, a free-floating
skimming device is provided which drains off the top few inches of oil
and/or water which is then pumped out. The pumped out oil may be
collected or burned in an oil-well test burner which can typically accept
up to 50% water. The skimming nozæle is stabilized but yet is free to
follow changes in wave height preferably by being unrestricted in vertical
movement independent of the device which suppor~s it. It should also be
so mounted as to be able to follow the changes in wave slope by being free
to tilt in any direction through the use of a flexible connection. This `~`~
will ensure that the intake remains parallel and just below the water level
at all times. By adjusting the buoyancy, the intake cap be kept so that
the oil film can be collected with relatively little water.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of
one embodiment of a skimming device according to an aspect of this invention;
and Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of
Figure 1.
It is seen that the floatable skimming device 10
includes a floatation base 12 provided with a central cylindrical boss 14
and sy~,metrical outwardly extending dished rim 16 provided with an annular
peripheral fender 18. The upper surface 20 of dishes rim 16 extends
symmetrically downwardly and inwardly to a central cavity 22.
Spaced from the upper surface 20 of dished rim 16 by
means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart spiders 24 is an ~ !
upper pedestal 26, also formed of floatatiott material. The lower surface
28 of upper pedestal 26 extends symmetrically downwardly and inwardly to a
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: central hollow co~e 30, extending upwardl~ coextens.i~ely with central :~
cavity 22.
Secured to the upper surface 32 of upper pedestal 26
by means
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threaded bolts 34 is a pump motor 36 operat:lvely connected by shaft 38
~ \ to the rotor 40 of a progressive cavity pump 42.
: The intake of the progressive cavity pump 42 is a continuous
; circumferential intake slot 44, and the discharge is by way of a central
axial outlet 46, leading to a discharge pipe 48. The lntake slot 44
is fed along a dished continuously variable annulus 50 defined by the
upper surface 20 of dished rim 16 and the lower surface 28 of upper
pedestal 26.
The material of construction of the floatation device is of
such a type that it is lighter in weight than water, while being rela-
tively uneffected both by sea water and petroleum or oil spills. One
suitable such material is foamed polyurethane.
In use, the floatation device, by proper selection of the type
and volume of floatation material, is àdapted to float in the water 52
with the oil spill 54 just below the higher point of the upper surface
20 of dished rim 16. The oil 54 is thus preferentially drawn downwardly
through annulus 50 to intake slot 44. The oil is pumped out through
discharge pipe 48.
The floating suction device is especially adapted for use with
the wave breaker oil recovery device of copending application Serial
No. 253,817 filed concurrently herewith whereby, in such device, the
floating suction device is free to follow changes in~both wave height
and wave slope.
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