Patent · US Expired

Floating layer recovery apparatus

US5147184A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
7References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1990
Grant dateSep 15, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/38
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A floating layer recovery apparatus is disclosed for selectively pumping a liquid floating on groundwater. The apparatus preferably includes a first float which is buoyant in the floating layer attached by a guide to a bottom float which has neutral buoyancy in the groundwater. A middle float is slidably attached to the guide for upward and downward movement between the first and bottom floats. The middle float being an inlet is constructed to have an effective density in the assembly such that it rests at a point where its inlet is near the bottom of the floating layer. Coiled conduits disposed above and below the bottom float carry the floating layer liquid received by the inlet to a pump disposed below. The pump then pumps the floating layer liquid from the conduit to the ground surface. In a preferred embodiment, more precise control over the level of the inlet port is achieved by means of an adjustable inlet port means.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.