Disk-type oil collector

The present invention relates to an improved disk-type oil collector which is provided with at least one alignment of oleophile disks. Each oleophile disk of the at least one alignment of oleophile disks is furnished with at least one surrounding rim whose peripheral edge is provided with a plurality of teeth. The surrounding rim is connected to the periphery of the oleophile disk by means of an annular sector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present specification relates to improvements introduced in a disk-type 
oil collector designed to recover oil or thick liquids spilt on water. 
As is known to those skilled in the art, many types of equipment are used 
to collect oil when spilt on water, mainly those that employ a plurality 
of oleophile disks suitably disposed on shafts driven by their own motors, 
with these disks being held partially immersed in water and enabling 
collection of the floating oil clinging to the surfaces of each disk 
which, when rotating, deposits it on stationary scrapers that direct the 
flow of the collected oil. 
This type of equipment, though widely used, only displays satisfactory 
rates of efficiency in limited operating conditions, with this same 
efficiency being severely affected when the oil to be collected is 
accompanied by solid floating matter, such as leafs, rubble, chips of wood 
in general and an interminable variety of other types of trash. 
As a rule, this oil-floating debris is equally directed to the oleophile 
disks, in view of the flow given rise to by the actual collection of oil 
caused by rotation of the said disks. 
It so happens that, above a given size, these solid residues begin to 
interfere with the proper operation of the equipment, colliding with the 
disks in rotary motion and blocking the free circulation of oil to the 
disks. 
It is quite common for this floating trash to impair the operation of the 
suction pumps drawing in the oil collected by the disks and retrieved by 
the scrapers, often causing the overall breakdown thereof and disabling 
equipment that, almost always and in spite of its limitations, performs an 
especially important job. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in 
disk-type oil collectors that will enable them to operate perfectly even 
when the oil collected carries an amount of solid floating debris in sizes 
that would normally be detrimental to their operation. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in 
disk-type oil collectors that will, at a low cost, enable the said 
collectors to perform with better features, even in such adverse 
conditions as when solid floating matter is present. 
Finally, a further object of the present invention is to provide a 
disk-type oil collector with means to prevent solid floating matter from 
being drawn in together with the oil, in such circumstances as to 
jeopardize perfect operation of the equipment. 
In view of the limitations displayed by conventional equipment and to 
achieve the proposed objects, an improved disk-type oil collector has been 
developed, as described in the present invention, comprising at least one 
alignment of oleophile disks, each provided with at least one integral 
serrated rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
According to what is illustrated in the aforementioned figures, the 
improved disk-type oil collector of the present invention is characterized 
in that each oleophile disk I is furnished with a surrounding rim 2 whose 
peripheral surface 3 is provided with a plurality of teeth 4, with the 
said surrounding rim 2 having, in its more central portion, an annular 
sector 5 to provide a mechanical link between the said surrounding rim 2 
and the periphery of the oleophile disk 1. 
FIGS. 4 and 4a illustrate two different positions for the annular sector 5 
relative to the periphery of the oleophile disk 1, wherein, in FIG. 4, 
same is axially displaced so that its periphery will coincide with the 
periphery of the said disk 1, while FIG. 4a illustrates the position of 
the annular sector 5 so that the periphery of disk i is located at an 
intermediate point of the width of the said annular sector 5. 
The surrounding rim ensures that there will be a continuous flow of oil, 
even in the presence of solid floating matter, in fragmentary and mobile 
condition, without "choking" the oil intake of the disks. 
FIG. 4b illustrates a secondary variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, 
in which the two edges of the annular sector 5 are provided with 
surrounding rims 2. 
Collection of the floating oil is performed in a conventional manner, with 
the scraper skimming the two vertical surfaces of the disk i to remove the 
oil clinging thereto. 
It so happens that, with the introduction of the present improvements, the 
path of the solid floating matter, which normally follows the flow of the 
oil being collected, will run through the active area of the surrounding 
rims 2, being then diverted by the teeth 4 and not disturbing oil 
circulation within the equipment pipes and pumps, and preventing the 
occurrence of clogging or damage. 
FIG. 3 shows that the oil will flow toward the surfaces of each disk on a 
slanted path, as illustrated by the arrows "A". 
As shown by the attached drawings, the annular sector 5 of each disk 1 
functions as a support for the surrounding rim 2 and as a restriction for 
the front trash input area between the said oleophile disks 1. 
It should be noted that the teeth 4 provided on the surrounding rims 2 may 
be designed in different ways to fit the particular characteristics of the 
most common types of floating solid matter to be found in a given 
operating section of the present improved equipment for the collection of 
oil. 
The drawings presented herein illustrate a few preferred embodiments for 
the disks comprising the subject oil-collecting equipment and should be 
regarded as being of an explanatory but not limiting nature.