Patent ID: 6423214
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
A device for decanting supernatant from below a liquid's surface, comprising:a body having a bottom and a plurality of holes; a bladder within said body that provides buoyancy for said body so that said body floats on said liquid's surface, said bladder defining a space between said body and said bladder; a decanter riser having an effluent port in fluid communication with one of said holes; a discharge line in fluid communication with said effluent port; activatable drawing means for drawing supernatant through said discharge line; a check valve riser in fluid communication with another of said holes having a supernatant intake port, said supernatant intake port being below said liquid's surface when said body floats on said liquid's surface; a valve operatively connected to said supernatant intake port that prevents substantial portions of any solids suspended in said liquid from passing through said supernatant intake port when said liquid is aerated; whereby when said drawing means is activated, supernatant is drawn through said supernatant intake port, through said valve, through said check valve riser, through said space between said bladder and said body, through said decanter riser, and out said discharge line.